WO2024106346A1 - Pallet lifting device, and pallet conveyance device comprising pallet lifting device - Google Patents

Pallet lifting device, and pallet conveyance device comprising pallet lifting device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024106346A1
WO2024106346A1 PCT/JP2023/040618 JP2023040618W WO2024106346A1 WO 2024106346 A1 WO2024106346 A1 WO 2024106346A1 JP 2023040618 W JP2023040618 W JP 2023040618W WO 2024106346 A1 WO2024106346 A1 WO 2024106346A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pallet
belt
mounting member
lifting
lifting device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2023/040618
Other languages
French (fr)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
重信 長瀬
翔太 小宮
Original Assignee
Ｎｉｔｔｏｋｕ株式会社
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ｎｉｔｔｏｋｕ株式会社 filed Critical Ｎｉｔｔｏｋｕ株式会社
Publication of WO2024106346A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024106346A1/en

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q7/00—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting
    • B23Q7/14—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting co-ordinated in production lines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
    • B65G47/90—Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pallet lifting device and a pallet transport device equipped with a pallet lifting device.
  • a pallet transport device consisting of a free-flow conveyor is set up to connect multiple machine tools, and pallets carrying workpieces are placed on the free-flow conveyor and transported, with the machine tool at the destination carrying out the specified processing of the workpieces on the transported pallet.
  • a lifting device that is mounted on a conveyor and lifts up a pallet in the middle of transport, allowing another pallet to pass underneath it (see, for example, JP5498943B).
  • This lifting device grips both sides of the pallet during transport, lifts it up in that state, and allows another pallet to pass underneath, eliminating the backlog of pallets.
  • the lifting head corrects the misalignment of the pallet and grips it as soon as it starts to rise, so the time to reliably correct the misalignment is too short.
  • the impact on the workpiece is stronger than if the time to correct the misalignment was longer, and there is a risk that the workpiece will shift from its designated position on the pallet or fall.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a pallet lifting device that can eliminate misalignment of the pallet while it is being lifted.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of a pallet transport device equipped with a pallet lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of a pallet transport device equipped with a pallet lifting device.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. 1 showing a pallet lifting device.
  • FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the pallet lifting device has lifted the pallet, and corresponds to FIG.
  • FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the pallet lifting device has lifted the pallet, and corresponds to FIG.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of a pallet transport device equipped with a pallet lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of a pallet transport device equipped with a pallet lifting device.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA
  • FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which the fixing mechanism of the pallet lifting device has fixed the lifted pallet, and corresponds to FIG.
  • FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which the fixing mechanism of the pallet lifting device has fixed the lifted pallet, and corresponds to FIG.
  • the pallet lifting device 50 in this embodiment lifts the pallet 11, which is carried on the moving belt 20, during transport.
  • the pallet lifting device 50 will be described as being installed in a pallet transport device 10 that loads a pallet 11 onto a belt 20 and transports the pallet 11 by circulating the belt 20.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show a pallet transport device 10 equipped with a pallet lifting device 50.
  • three mutually orthogonal axes, X, Y, and Z are set, with the X axis extending in a substantially horizontal lateral direction, the Y axis extending in a substantially horizontal front-rear direction, and the Z axis extending in a vertical direction.
  • the pallet transport device 10 includes a pair of belts 20 that are formed to be circulatable and carry the pallets 11, and a drive mechanism 30 that circulates the belts 20 to transport the pallets 11 carried on the belts 20.
  • the belts 20 form a transport path for transporting the pallets 11.
  • the pallet transport device 10 transports pallets 11 carrying workpieces (not shown) on a belt 20.
  • the pallet transport device 10 stops the transport of the pallet 11 by stopping the circulation of the belt 20 in front of the machine tools 1 to 4 ( Figure 2) provided along the transport path, and is used in cases where the workpieces (not shown) carried on the pallet 11 are processed by the machine tools 1 to 4.
  • FIG. 2 shows four machine tools 1-4 installed on one side of the pallet transport device 10, the number of machine tools 1-4 varies depending on the workpieces that need to be machined. Therefore, the number of machine tools 1-4 can be increased or decreased as appropriate depending on the number of pallets 11, etc.
  • the pallet transport device 10 comprises a stand 9 arranged alongside multiple machine tools 1-4, a pair of plates 16 arranged on the stand 9 along the transport path (X-axis direction) of the pallet 11 and parallel to each other at a predetermined interval in the width direction (Y-axis direction), and a number of support legs 19 erected on the stand 9 at a predetermined interval along the transport path (X-axis direction).
  • the pair of plates 16 are fixed to the support legs 19 above the stand 9.
  • a pair of belts 20 are supported by each of a pair of plates 16.
  • the pair of belts 20 support both ends of the pallet 11 in the width direction (Y-axis direction). In other words, the pallet 11 is loaded across the pair of belts 20.
  • pulleys 22 around which the belts 20 are wound are provided at both ends of the plate 16.
  • the belt 20 is looped around a pair of pulleys 22 on both ends of the plate 16 so that the carrier portion is horizontal.
  • each of the pair of plates 16, 16 is fitted with an upper support member 17a that supports the carrier portion of the belt 20 looped around the pulley 22 and prevents the carrier portion from slackening, and a lower support member 17b that supports the return portion of the belt 20 looped around the pulley 22 and prevents the return portion from slackening.
  • the upper support member 17a and the lower support member 17b are each attached to the plate 16 by screwing.
  • the upper support member 17a and the lower support member 17b are each provided with grooves 17c and 17d that house the belt 20 and prevent movement in the width direction (Y-axis direction).
  • the pallet conveying device 10 includes a drive mechanism 30 that circulates the belt 20, which includes a drive pulley 23 around which the belt 20 is wound, and a motor 31 that rotates the drive pulley 23.
  • support plates 32 are attached to the ends of the pair of plates 16, and the drive shaft 23a is supported by these support plates 32.
  • a pair of drive pulleys 23 of the same shape and size are attached to the area of the drive shaft 23a between the pair of plates 16.
  • the drive pulley 23 is provided on the same plane as the pulley 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the belt 20 redirected by the pulley 22 is looped around the drive pulley 23. In addition, a redirecting pulley 24 that guides the belt 20 looped around the drive pulley 23 to the lower support member 17b is pivotally supported on the support plate 32.
  • the motor 31 is attached to one of the support plates 32, and is driven by commands from a controller (not shown) to rotate the drive shaft 23a.
  • a controller not shown
  • the motor 31 simultaneously rotates the pair of drive pulleys 23 attached to the drive shaft 23a in the same direction, and circulates the pair of belts 20 in the same direction.
  • the belt 20 in this embodiment is a so-called toothed belt. Specifically, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the belt 20 has projections 20a and 20b formed alternately and continuously in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) as first engagement parts extending in the width direction (Y-axis direction) on the outer surface, which is the mounting surface of the pallet 11.
  • the pallet 11 comprises a base 12 that is rectangular in top view and has both sides supported by the belt 20, a flange-like member 15 that is horizontally provided on both sides of the lower part of the base 12 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) so as to protrude from the side edges, a mounting device 13 that is provided on the upper surface of the base 12 and that mounts a workpiece (not shown) to be machined by the machine tools 1 to 4, and a contact material 14 that is provided on the underside of the base 12 and that directly contacts the belt 20.
  • the shape of the mounting fixture 13 varies depending on the type of workpiece to be transported.
  • multiple pallets 11 equipped with mounting fixtures 13 are prepared in order to transport multiple workpieces continuously.
  • the contact material 14 provided on the base 12 of the pallet 11 has projections 14a and 14b formed thereon as second engagement parts that can engage with the projections 20a and 20b of the belt 20.
  • the projections 14a and 14b of the contact material 14 are formed to have the same shape and size as the projections 20a and 20b in cross section so as to engage with the projections 20a and 20b of the belt 20.
  • the irregularities 14a, 14b formed on the contact material 14 engage with the irregularities 20a, 20b formed on the belt 20. This prohibits the pallet 11 from moving in the X-axis direction independent of the belt 20 (movement relative to the pallet 11). In other words, the pallet 11 and the belt 20 move together.
  • the flange-shaped members 15 provided on both sides of the base 12 each pass above the plate 16 and protrude to the outside of the plate 16.
  • a pair of guide members 36 are attached to the upper edge of the plate 16 so as to sandwich the pallet 11 including the flange-shaped members 15 from the outside in the width direction (Y-axis direction) with a specified gap between them.
  • the guide member 36 is formed to protrude outward in the width direction (Y-axis direction) beyond the flange-shaped member 15, and is attached to the upper edge of the plate 16.
  • the guide member 36 is formed with a step 36a that faces the outer edge of the flange-shaped member 15 in the width direction.
  • the step 36a faces the outer edge of the flange-shaped member 15 with a small gap, preventing misalignment in the width direction without impeding the movement of the pallet 11 including the flange-shaped member 15 in the transport direction.
  • a pressing member 18 is attached to the upper surface of the portion of the guide member 36 that protrudes upward.
  • the pressing member 18 is formed, for example, by a flat plate that extends to a position facing the upper surface of the flange-shaped member 15 of the pallet 11.
  • a predetermined gap is provided between the pressing member 18 and the flange-shaped member 15 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and between the flange-shaped member 15 and the guide member 36.
  • the pressing member 18 is also provided so as to face the side surface of the base 12 in the Y-axis direction with a predetermined gap between them. This makes it possible to prevent movement of the base 12 in the width direction (Y-axis direction).
  • the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 is prevented from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20. This makes it possible to maintain an engagement state between the irregularities 14a, 14b formed on the contact material 14 of the pallet 11 and the irregularities 20a, 20b formed on the belt 20, and makes it possible to prohibit relative movement between the belt 20 and the pallet 11. In other words, the pallet 11 can be transported reliably by the belt 20.
  • the pallet conveying device 10 when the motor 31 is driven to circulate the belt 20 on which the pallet 11 is mounted, the pallet 11 moves while mounted on the belt 20 and is conveyed a distance equal to the movement of the belt 20.
  • the pallet conveying device 10 further includes a pallet lifting device 50 that lifts the pallet 11, which is being conveyed on the belt 20, during the conveyance.
  • the pallet lifting device 50 includes a pair of lifting actuators 51 arranged to sandwich the pair of plates 16 in the Y-axis direction (outside the pair of plates 16), and a mounting member 52 that can be raised and lowered by the lifting actuators 51 and is configured to be capable of mounting the pallet 11 that is to be transported by being loaded onto the belt 20 in the lowered position.
  • a base plate 53 constituting the pallet lifting device 50 is installed on the stand 9 for each of the pair of pallet lifting devices 50.
  • a pair of support posts 54, 54 spaced apart in the conveying direction (X-axis direction) are erected on the base plate 53, and a mounting plate 56 is erected on the upper ends of the pair of support posts 54, 54.
  • the lift actuator 51 is, for example, a fluid pressure cylinder.
  • the lift actuator 51 is disposed vertically (in the Z-axis direction), with the rod 51b penetrating the mounting plate 56 from below and the upper part of the main body 51a attached to the lower surface of the mounting plate 56.
  • a mounting member 52 is attached to the tip side of the rod 51b of the lifting actuator 51.
  • the guide member 36 is formed with a notch 36b into which the mounting member 52 and a fixing mechanism 61 (described later) can enter.
  • the mounting member 52 has an attachment portion 52a to which the rod 51b (FIG. 5) is attached, and a placement portion 52b that is formed by protruding upward from the edge of the attachment portion 52a on the plate 16 side and on which the pallet 11 is placed.
  • the length W (see Figures 1 and 5) of the notch 36b of the guide member 36 is formed to be longer than the length L1 (see Figure 1) of the pallet 11 in the transport direction. Also, as shown in Figure 5, the length L2 of the mounting member 52 is made equal to the length L1 ( Figure 1) of the pallet 11 in the transport direction. This allows the pallet 11 and the mounting member 52 to enter the notch 36b of the guide member 36, and minimizes the gaps that occur between the pallet 11 and the guide member 36, and between the mounting member 52 and the guide member 36.
  • the mounting member 52 when the rod 51b is immersed in the main body 51a, the mounting member 52 is in a lowered state. In this state, the flange member 15 of the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 passes above the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52. In other words, when the mounting member 52 is in a lowered state, the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 can pass through the pallet lifting device 50 without coming into contact with the mounting member 52 or the pressing plate 62.
  • the rod 51b is caused to protrude upward from the main body portion 51a, and as shown in FIG. 6, the lifting actuator 51 mounts the pallet 11 on the mounting portion 52b of the mounting member 52 and raises it. As a result, the pallet 11 mounted on the mounting portion 52b of the mounting member 52 moves away from the notch 36b (FIG. 7).
  • the pallet lifting device 50 is provided with a fixing mechanism 61 that fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52 when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised to a predetermined position by the lifting actuator 51.
  • the fixing mechanism 61 in this embodiment is provided on both sides of the lifting actuator 51 in the transport direction and includes a lifting rod 64 that can move up and down relative to the mounting member 52, a pressing plate 62 attached to the upper end of the lifting rod 64 above the mounting member 52 with a predetermined distance from the mounting member 52, a spring 63 ( Figure 5) as a biasing member that biases the pressing plate 62 to widen the distance between the mounting member 52, a slide plate 66 attached to the lower end of the lifting rod 64, and a collar 67a as a limiting member that prohibits the lifting rod 64 from rising any further when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised to a predetermined position by the lifting actuator 51.
  • a linear bushing 67 that guides the lifting rod 64 is attached to the mounting plate 56.
  • a linear bushing 69 is also attached to the mounting portion 52a of the mounting member 52, coaxially with the linear bushing 67.
  • a collar 67a that houses the linear bushing 67 and serves as a limiting member is attached to the mounting plate 56. The collar 67a also functions to protect the linear bushing 67.
  • the length of the collar 67a in the Z-axis direction is longer than that of the linear bushing 67.
  • the lifting rods 64 are inserted through the linear bushings 67 and 69 so as to be movable in the axial direction.
  • a pressing plate 62 is mounted on the upper ends of the pair of lifting rods 64.
  • the spring 63 is, for example, a coil spring interposed between the mounting member 52 and the pressing plate 62.
  • a floating joint 57 is provided at the tip of the rod 51b of the lifting actuator 51.
  • the floating joint 57 is also attached to the mounting member 52.
  • the mounting member 52 is attached to the tip of the rod 51b via the floating joint 57.
  • a stripper bolt 58 is provided coaxially with the rod 51b in the floating joint 57 so as to pass through the mounting member 52.
  • the stripper bolt 58 is also provided so as to extend the rod 51b, and passes through a stopper 59 attached to the pressing plate 62.
  • the head of the stripper bolt 58 abuts against the stopper 59, and the biasing force of the spring 63 prevents the mounting member 52 and the pressing plate 62 from opening more than a predetermined value (see Figure 5).
  • a slide plate 66 is attached to the lower part of the pair of lifting rods 64, spanning them.
  • the slide plate 66 comes into contact with the collar 67a, which acts as a restricting member, further rise of the pair of lifting rods 64 is restricted.
  • the mounting member 52 is provided with a pin 52c that protrudes toward the flange-shaped member 15 and tapers toward the tip.
  • the flange-shaped member 15 is also provided with a hole 15a through which the pin 52c can enter.
  • the pins 52c are formed at diagonal positions on the mounting member 52 ( Figure 2), and the inner diameter of the holes 15a is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pins 52c.
  • the slide plate 66 is provided with a spare guide member 71 that closes the notch 36b formed in the guide member 36 (enters the notch 36b portion) when the mounting member 52 rises.
  • the spare guide member 71 is formed in a shape that surrounds the end of the brim-shaped member 15 in the pallet 11 in the Y-axis direction from the sides, above, and below.
  • the spare guide member 71 has a cross section that is approximately the same as the cross-sectional shape of the portion formed by the guide member 36 and the pressing member 18.
  • the preliminary guide member 71 has a side wall portion 71a that faces the outer surface of the flange-shaped member 15 of the transported pallet 11, and an upper plate portion 71b that faces the upper surface of the flange-shaped member 15.
  • the spare guide member 71 is attached to the slide plate 66 via a support 72.
  • the spare guide member 71 which rises together with the slide plate 66, enters the notch 36b in the guide member 36.
  • the side of the flange member 15 of the pallet 11 passing through the spare guide member 71 faces the side wall portion 71a with a slight gap in the width direction
  • the top surface of the flange member 15 faces the upper plate portion 71b with a slight gap in the vertical direction. This prevents the pallet 11 from shifting in the width direction and from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20 without impeding the movement of the pallet 11 in the conveying direction.
  • the pallet conveying device 10 sequentially conveys a number of pallets 11 carrying workpieces to be processed on a circulating belt 20.
  • the belt 20 is circulated by a drive mechanism 30. Specifically, the motor 31 is driven to rotate a pair of drive pulleys 23 simultaneously, and the pair of belts 20 wrapped around the drive pulleys 23 are circulated in the same direction.
  • Pallet 11 carrying workpieces (not shown) is transported by being placed on belt 20, and is transported in front of machine tools 1 to 4 ( Figure 2) that are provided along the transport path of belt 20. Then, when pallet 11 is transported in front of machine tools 1 to 4, the circulation of belt 20 is temporarily stopped, and pallet 11 carried on belt 20 is stopped at a position corresponding to machine tools 1 to 4. This makes it possible for machine tools 1 to 4 to process the workpieces (not shown) carried on pallet 11.
  • the workpiece (not shown) is mounted on a mounting fixture 13 on the pallet 11.
  • the pallet 11 carrying the workpiece is mounted on the belt 20 at the upstream end of the belt 20.
  • the contact material 14 of the pallet 11 overlaps the belt 20.
  • the irregularities 14a, 14b formed on the contact material 14 engage with the irregularities 20a, 20b formed on the belt 20, so movement of the pallet 11 in the X-axis direction independent of the belt 20 is prohibited.
  • the presence of the pressing member 18 prevents the pallet 11 loaded onto the belt 20 from floating away from the belt 20. This prevents the unevenness 14a, 14b from disengaging from the unevenness 20a, 20b.
  • the pallet 11 is transported downstream at a speed equal to the circulation speed of the belt 20. Then, when the pallet 11 reaches the front of the machine tool 1 arranged opposite the belt 20, the circulation of the belt 20 can be temporarily stopped, thereby halting the transport of the pallet 11.
  • the machine tool 1 processes the workpiece (not shown) mounted on the pallet 11, whose movement has been stopped.
  • the pallet 11 carrying the workpieces is transported downstream. Specifically, the belt 20 is circulated to move the pallet 11 downstream together with the belt 20.
  • the pallets 11 at the waiting location are moved to the processing location.
  • the following pallet 11 will face machine tool 1. This allows the workpieces mounted on these pallets 11 to immediately start processing at machine tools 1 and 2.
  • the pallet 11 is transported further downstream together with the workpieces. Specifically, the belt 20 is circulated to move the pallet 11 further downstream. By repeatedly transporting and stopping the pallet 11 in this manner, the pallet 11 carrying the workpieces that have been subjected to the necessary machining by machine tools 1 to 4 is collected together with the workpieces from the downstream end of the belt 20.
  • the pallet transport device 10 is equipped with a pallet lifting device 50, so that the pallet 11 being transported on the belt 20 can be lifted during transport and removed from the belt 20.
  • the mounting member 52 is lowered in the normal pallet transport state (see Figure 4). Then, in the normal pallet transport state, when the pallet 11 is transported while mounted on the belt 20, the brim-like member 15 protruding laterally from the plate 16 passes above the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52. In other words, in the normal pallet transport state shown in Figure 4, the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 is allowed to move past the pallet lifting device 50.
  • the guide member 36 has a notch 36b formed at the location where the pallet lifting device 50 is provided. Also, as shown in Figure 5, no pressing member 18 is present at the location where the pallet lifting device 50 is provided. As a result, when the pallet 11 is raised, the rod 51b of the lifting actuator 51 is caused to protrude upward from the main body portion 51a (see Figures 6 and 7) while the pallet 11 faces the pallet lifting device 50, thereby raising the pallet 11 mounted on the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52.
  • the lifting actuator 51 is used to lower the mounting member 52, and the lifted pallet 11 is lowered together with the mounting member 52 and remounted on the belt 20, thereby increasing the gap between the preceding pallet 11 and decreasing the gap between the following pallet 11.
  • the belt 20 can be circulated while the pallet lifting device 50 has lifted the pallet 11, allowing another following pallet 11 to pass under the lifted pallet 11. This also allows the transport order of the pallets 11 to be changed.
  • a spare guide member 71 that closes the cutout 36b when the mounting member 52 is raised is provided on the slide plate 66. This allows the following pallet 11 to pass through the spare guide member 71 and cutout 36b when passing under the lifted pallet 11.
  • the brim member 15 of the pallet 11 passing through the preliminary guide member 71 faces the side wall portion 71a and the upper plate portion 71b of the preliminary guide member 71 with gaps in the width direction and upward, respectively. This makes it possible to prevent the following pallet 11 from shifting in the width direction, and from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20, without impeding the movement of the following pallet 11 in the conveying direction. Therefore, the following pallet 11 can quickly pass under the lifted pallet 11 while being mounted on the circulating belt 20.
  • the pallet lifting device 50 is equipped with a fixing mechanism 61 that clamps the pallet 11 together with the mounting member 52 and fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52 when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised by the lifting actuator 51. This prevents the workpiece mounted on the pallet 11 from shifting during processing, and also prevents any disruption to the processing of the workpiece.
  • the pressing plate 62 is formed with a step 62a that contacts the side of the flange-shaped member 15 on the pallet 11 to limit the movement of the pallet 11 in the width direction, so that even if some misalignment occurs when the pallet 11 is mounted on the mounting member 52 in the lowered state, the step 62a can eliminate the misalignment while the mounting member 52 is rising. Then, when the pallet 11 rises further, the pallet 11 in its misaligned state is fixed to the mounting member 52 by the fixing mechanism 61. This allows the workpiece mounted on the pallet 11 in the raised position to be machined without any misalignment.
  • the mounting member 52 is provided with a pin 52c that tapers toward the tip and protrudes toward the flange-shaped member 15. Furthermore, the flange-shaped member 15 is provided with a hole 15a through which the pin 52c can enter. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52 clamps the flange-shaped member 15 on the pallet 11 together with the pressing plate 62, the pin 52c enters the hole 15a in the flange-shaped member 15 of the pallet 11, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 8.
  • the tapered pins 52c can enter the holes 15a while the fixing mechanism 61 is fixing the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52, returning the pallet 11 to its correct position on the mounting member 52. Furthermore, by having the pins 52c enter the holes 15a in this manner, it is possible to more reliably prevent the pallet 11 from misaligning during machining by the machine tool 3.
  • a pair of pins 52c are formed at diagonal positions on the mounting member 52 ( Figure 2), so the distance between the pins 52c on both sides in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the pallet 11 can be made larger than when the pins 52c are in symmetrical positions (for example, when the pins 52c are formed at the same position on the X-axis and spaced apart in the Y-axis direction). This reduces the amount of misalignment of the pallet 11 with respect to the mounting member 52, making it possible to mount the pallet 11 in a more correct position.
  • the contact materials 14 are provided on both sides of the lower part of the base 12, and the contact materials 14 are superimposed on the belt 20.
  • the base 12 may be loaded directly on the belt 20 without providing the contact materials 14.
  • the belt 20 is a so-called toothed belt, in which unevenness 20a, 20b extending in the width direction is formed alternately and continuously in the longitudinal direction on the outer surface, which is the mounting surface of the pallet 11.
  • the belt 20 may be a belt without unevenness 20a, 20b.
  • a pair of pins 52c are formed on the mounting member 52, but the pins 52c may be provided in any position as long as the misalignment of the pallet 11 can be eliminated. Specifically, the pins 52c may be formed on the pressing plate 62.
  • the pallet transport device 10 connecting four machine tools 1 to 4 has been described.
  • the pallet transport device 10 may also be configured to connect five or more machine tools. Even if the number of processing steps increases due to an increase in the number of machine tools, by providing a pallet lifting device 50 that lifts the pallets 11, which are transported on the moving belt 20, during transport, it is possible to change the spacing (pitch) between the pallets 11 carrying the workpieces and reduce the number of pallets 11 required.
  • the pallet transport device 10 is described as having one pallet lifting device 50.
  • the pallet transport device 10 may be provided with two or more pallet lifting devices 50.
  • the number of processing steps increases due to an increase in machine tools, the number of places where the spacing (pitch) or order of the pallets 11 can be changed increases, making it possible to transport the pallets 11 in a variety of ways.
  • the pallet lifting device 50 lifts the pallet 11 that is loaded onto the moving belt 20 and transported during transport.
  • the pallet lifting device 50 includes a lifting actuator 51 provided on both sides of the belt 20 so as to sandwich the belt 20, a mounting member 52 that is provided so as to be raised and lowered by the lifting actuator 51 and configured so as to be capable of mounting the pallet 11 that is loaded onto the belt 20 and transported in the lowered position, and a fixing mechanism 61 that fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52 by clamping the pallet 11 together with the mounting member 52 when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised by the lifting actuator 51.
  • the fixing mechanism 61 fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52 in a raised state on which the pallet 11 is mounted. Therefore, even if there is some misalignment when the pallet 11 is mounted on the mounting member 52 in a lowered state, the misalignment can be eliminated when the pallet 11 is lifted by eliminating the misalignment as the mounting member 52 rises.
  • the fixing mechanism 61 includes a lifting rod 64 that is mounted on the mounting member 52 so as to be able to move up and down, a pressing plate 62 that is attached to the upper end of the lifting rod 64 and is provided above the mounting member 52 with a predetermined distance therebetween, a spring 63 (biasing member) that biases the pressing plate 62 to widen the distance between the mounting member 52, a slide plate 66 that is attached to the lower end of the lifting rod 64, and a collar 67a (limiting member) that abuts against the slide plate 66 to prohibit the lifting rod 64 from rising when the mounting member 52 is raised to a predetermined position by the lifting actuator 51.
  • a lifting rod 64 that is mounted on the mounting member 52 so as to be able to move up and down
  • a pressing plate 62 that is attached to the upper end of the lifting rod 64 and is provided above the mounting member 52 with a predetermined distance therebetween
  • a spring 63 biasing member
  • a slide plate 66 that is attached to the lower end of the
  • the pressing plate 62 is formed with a step 62a that faces the side of the pallet 11 and limits the movement of the pallet 11 in the width direction.
  • the step portion 62a can eliminate the misalignment while the mounting member 52 is rising.
  • the pallet lifting device 50 further includes a pin 52c formed at a diagonal position on either the mounting member 52 or the pressing plate 62, and a hole 15a formed in the pallet 11 through which the pin 52c can enter.
  • the pallet transport device 10 is equipped with a pallet lifting device 50.
  • a belt 20 is circulatively attached to a pair of plates 16 spaced at a predetermined interval in the width direction, and flange-like members 15 that pass above the pair of plates 16 and protrude to the outside of the plates 16 while mounted on the belt 20 are formed on both sides of the pallet 11, and a pallet lifting device 50 is attached so that the flange-like members 15 on both sides of the pallet 11 transported on the belt 20 can be mounted on a mounting member 52 in a lowered state.
  • the lifted pallet 11 is lowered and placed back on the belt 20, thereby increasing the gap between the preceding pallet 11 and decreasing the gap between the following pallet 11.
  • the pallet transport device 10 also includes a guide member 36 that is attached to the top of the plate 16 and limits the widthwise movement of the pallet 11 that is loaded onto the belt 20 and transported, and the guide member 36 is formed with a notch 36b that can accommodate the mounting member 52 in a lowered state.
  • the pallet lifting device 50 is provided with a spare guide member 71 that closes the notch 36b when the mounting member 52 is raised.
  • the transport order of the pallets 11 can be changed by passing another following pallet 11 under the lifted pallet 11.
  • the pallet transport device 10 further comprises a first engagement portion provided on the belt 20 and formed by projections and recesses 20a, 20b arranged alternately and continuously in the longitudinal direction, a second engagement portion provided on the pallet 11 and formed by projections and recesses 14a, 14b that can engage with the first engagement portion, and a pressing member 18 provided on the guide member 36 to prevent the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20.
  • the pressing member 18 is provided, so that the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 is prevented from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20. This makes it possible to maintain an engagement state between the irregularities 14a, 14b formed on the contact material 14 of the pallet 11 and the irregularities 20a, 20b formed on the belt 20, and makes it possible to prohibit relative movement between the belt 20 and the pallet 11. In other words, the pallet 11 can be transported reliably by the belt 20.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Workpieces (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)

Abstract

A pallet lifting device (50) whereby a pallet (11) that is loaded on a belt (20) and is being conveyed is lifted during conveyance, said pallet lifting device (50) comprising: raising/lowering actuators (51) provided on both sides of the belt (20); loading members (52) provided so as to be capable of being raised and lowered by the raising/lowering actuators (51) and configured such that the pallet (11) being conveyed can be loaded at a lowered position; and fixing mechanisms (61) that sandwich the pallet (11) together with the loading members (52) in a state in which the loading members (52) have been raised.

Description

パレット持ち上げ装置及びパレット持ち上げ装置を備えるパレット搬送装置Pallet lifting device and pallet transport device equipped with the pallet lifting device
　本発明は、パレット持ち上げ装置及びパレット持ち上げ装置を備えるパレット搬送装置に関するものである。 The present invention relates to a pallet lifting device and a pallet transport device equipped with a pallet lifting device.
　従来、製造ラインにおいては、複数の工作機を連結するようにフリーフローコンベアから成るパレット搬送装置を設け、ワークを搭載したパレットをそのフリーフローコンベアに搭載して搬送し、搬送先の工作機が搬送されたパレットに搭載されたワークに対して所定の加工を行うようなことが行われている。 　Traditionally, in manufacturing lines, a pallet transport device consisting of a free-flow conveyor is set up to connect multiple machine tools, and pallets carrying workpieces are placed on the free-flow conveyor and transported, with the machine tool at the destination carrying out the specified processing of the workpieces on the transported pallet.
　このようなパレット搬送装置であっては、加工済のワークを搭載したパレットの前に加工中や未加工のワークを搭載したパレットがあると、これらのワークの加工が終わるまで加工済のワークを搭載したパレットを搬送させることができずに、パレットが滞留するという現象が頻発していた。 In this type of pallet transport device, if a pallet carrying a processed workpiece is placed in front of a pallet carrying a workpiece that is currently being processed or is not being processed, the pallet carrying the processed workpiece cannot be transported until the processing of the workpiece is completed, and the pallet frequently becomes stuck.
　こうした現象を解消するために、コンベアに搭載されて搬送途中のパレットを持ち上げて、その下に別のパレットを通過させるような持ち上げ装置が提案されている（例えば、ＪＰ５４９８９４３Ｂ参照。）。 To solve this problem, a lifting device has been proposed that is mounted on a conveyor and lifts up a pallet in the middle of transport, allowing another pallet to pass underneath it (see, for example, JP5498943B).
　この持ち上げ装置では、搬送途中のパレットの両側を把持し、その状態で持ち上げて、その下を別のパレットを通過させることにより、パレットの滞留を解消させている。 This lifting device grips both sides of the pallet during transport, lifts it up in that state, and allows another pallet to pass underneath, eliminating the backlog of pallets.
　しかしながら、上記のパレット持ち上げ装置では、持ち上げヘッドが上昇開始と同時にパレットのズレを修正して把持するため、確実にズレを修正するための時間が短すぎる。このため、パレットにワークを搭載している場合には、ズレを修正する時間が長い場合に比べてワークに加わる衝撃が強くなり、ワークがパレット上の所定位置からずれたり、落下してしまうおそれがあった。 However, with the above-mentioned pallet lifting device, the lifting head corrects the misalignment of the pallet and grips it as soon as it starts to rise, so the time to reliably correct the misalignment is too short. As a result, when a workpiece is loaded on the pallet, the impact on the workpiece is stronger than if the time to correct the misalignment was longer, and there is a risk that the workpiece will shift from its designated position on the pallet or fall.
　本発明の目的は、パレットを持ち上げている最中に、パレットのズレを解消し得るパレット持ち上げ装置を提供することにある。 The object of the present invention is to provide a pallet lifting device that can eliminate misalignment of the pallet while it is being lifted.
　本発明のある態様によれば、移動するベルトに搭載されて搬送されるパレットを搬送途中に持ち上げるパレット持ち上げ装置は、ベルトの両側にベルトを挟むように設けられた昇降アクチュエータと、昇降アクチュエータにより昇降可能に設けられ、下降位置でベルトに搭載されて搬送されるパレットを搭載可能に構成された搭載部材と、パレットを搭載した搭載部材が昇降アクチュエータにより上昇した状態で、パレットを搭載部材とともに挟んでパレットを搭載部材に固定する固定機構と、を備える。 According to one aspect of the present invention, a pallet lifting device that lifts a pallet that is carried on a moving belt during transport includes a lifting actuator provided on both sides of the belt to sandwich the belt, a mounting member that is arranged so as to be raised and lowered by the lifting actuator and configured to be capable of carrying a pallet that is carried on the belt in a lowered position, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the pallet to the mounting member by clamping the pallet together with the mounting member when the mounting member carrying the pallet is raised by the lifting actuator.
図１は、本発明実施形態のパレット持ち上げ装置を備えるパレット搬送装置の正面図である。FIG. 1 is a front view of a pallet transport device equipped with a pallet lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 図２は、パレット持ち上げ装置を備えるパレット搬送装置の上面図である。FIG. 2 is a top view of a pallet transport device equipped with a pallet lifting device. 図３は、図１のＡ－Ａ線に沿う断面図である。FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 図４は、図１のＢ－Ｂ線に沿う断面図である。FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 図５は、パレット持ち上げ装置を示す図１のＣ部拡大図である。FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. 1 showing a pallet lifting device. 図６は、パレット持ち上げ装置がパレットを持ち上げた状態を示す図であり、図４に対応する図である。FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the pallet lifting device has lifted the pallet, and corresponds to FIG. 図７は、パレット持ち上げ装置がパレットを持ち上げた状態を示す図であり、図５に対応する図である。FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the pallet lifting device has lifted the pallet, and corresponds to FIG. 図８は、パレット持ち上げ装置の固定機構が持ち上げられたパレットを固定した状態を示す図であり、図６に対応する図である。FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which the fixing mechanism of the pallet lifting device has fixed the lifted pallet, and corresponds to FIG. 図９は、パレット持ち上げ装置の固定機構が持ち上げられたパレットを固定した状態を示す図であり、図７に対応する図である。FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which the fixing mechanism of the pallet lifting device has fixed the lifted pallet, and corresponds to FIG.
　本発明を実施するための最良の形態を図面に基づいて説明する。 The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
　本実施形態におけるパレット持ち上げ装置５０は、移動するベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１を搬送途中に持ち上げるものである。 The pallet lifting device 50 in this embodiment lifts the pallet 11, which is carried on the moving belt 20, during transport.
　パレット持ち上げ装置５０は、ベルト２０にパレット１１を搭載して、ベルト２０を循環させてパレット１１を搬送させるパレット搬送装置１０に設けられる場合を例に説明する。 The pallet lifting device 50 will be described as being installed in a pallet transport device 10 that loads a pallet 11 onto a belt 20 and transports the pallet 11 by circulating the belt 20.
　図１及び図２は、パレット持ち上げ装置５０を備えるパレット搬送装置１０を示している。なお、図１から図９の各図においては、互いに直交するＸ，Ｙ，Ｚの３軸を設定し、Ｘ軸が略水平横方向、Ｙ軸が略水平前後方向、Ｚ軸が鉛直方向に延びるものとする。 Figures 1 and 2 show a pallet transport device 10 equipped with a pallet lifting device 50. In each of Figures 1 to 9, three mutually orthogonal axes, X, Y, and Z, are set, with the X axis extending in a substantially horizontal lateral direction, the Y axis extending in a substantially horizontal front-rear direction, and the Z axis extending in a vertical direction.
　図１及び図２に示すように、パレット搬送装置１０は、循環可能に形成されパレット１１を搭載する一対のベルト２０と、ベルト２０を循環移動させて、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１を搬送させる駆動機構３０と、を備える。ベルト２０によってパレット１１を搬送する搬送経路が形成される。 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pallet transport device 10 includes a pair of belts 20 that are formed to be circulatable and carry the pallets 11, and a drive mechanism 30 that circulates the belts 20 to transport the pallets 11 carried on the belts 20. The belts 20 form a transport path for transporting the pallets 11.
　パレット搬送装置１０は、図示しないワークを搭載したパレット１１をベルト２０に搭載して搬送する。パレット搬送装置１０は、その搬送経路に沿って設けられた工作機１～４（図２）の前で、ベルト２０の循環を停止させることによりパレット１１の搬送を停止し、パレット１１に搭載された図示しないワークを工作機１～４により加工させるような場合に用いられる。 The pallet transport device 10 transports pallets 11 carrying workpieces (not shown) on a belt 20. The pallet transport device 10 stops the transport of the pallet 11 by stopping the circulation of the belt 20 in front of the machine tools 1 to 4 (Figure 2) provided along the transport path, and is used in cases where the workpieces (not shown) carried on the pallet 11 are processed by the machine tools 1 to 4.
　なお、図２では、パレット搬送装置１０の片側に工作機１～４が４台設けられる場合を示しているが、工作機１～４の台数は、加工を必要とするワークにより異なる。このため、工作機１～４の台数は、パレット１１の個数などに応じて適宜増減される。 Note that while FIG. 2 shows four machine tools 1-4 installed on one side of the pallet transport device 10, the number of machine tools 1-4 varies depending on the workpieces that need to be machined. Therefore, the number of machine tools 1-4 can be increased or decreased as appropriate depending on the number of pallets 11, etc.
　図１及び図２に示すように、パレット搬送装置１０は、複数の工作機１～４に沿って設けられた架台９と、架台９上にパレット１１の搬送経路（Ｘ軸方向）に沿って、かつ、幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）に所定の間隔を開けて平行に設けられる一対のプレート１６と、架台９上に搬送経路（Ｘ軸方向）に所定の間隔を開けて立設された複数の支持脚１９と、を備える。一対のプレート１６は、架台９の上方において、支持脚１９に固定されている。 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pallet transport device 10 comprises a stand 9 arranged alongside multiple machine tools 1-4, a pair of plates 16 arranged on the stand 9 along the transport path (X-axis direction) of the pallet 11 and parallel to each other at a predetermined interval in the width direction (Y-axis direction), and a number of support legs 19 erected on the stand 9 at a predetermined interval along the transport path (X-axis direction). The pair of plates 16 are fixed to the support legs 19 above the stand 9.
　図２に示すように、パレット搬送装置１０では、一対のベルト２０は、一対のプレート１６のそれぞれに支持される。一対のベルト２０は、パレット１１の幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）の両端部をそれぞれ支持する。別の言い方をすると、パレット１１は、一対のベルト２０に跨って搭載される。 As shown in FIG. 2, in the pallet conveying device 10, a pair of belts 20 are supported by each of a pair of plates 16. The pair of belts 20 support both ends of the pallet 11 in the width direction (Y-axis direction). In other words, the pallet 11 is loaded across the pair of belts 20.
　一対のベルト２０は、同じ形状であるので、以下では、一方のベルト２０についてのみ説明する。図１に示すように、プレート１６の両端部には、ベルト２０が掛け回されるプーリ２２がそれぞれ設けられる。 Because the pair of belts 20 have the same shape, only one of the belts 20 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, pulleys 22 around which the belts 20 are wound are provided at both ends of the plate 16.
　ベルト２０は、キャリア部分が水平となるようにしてプレート１６の両端に設けられた一対のプーリ２２に掛け回される。 The belt 20 is looped around a pair of pulleys 22 on both ends of the plate 16 so that the carrier portion is horizontal.
　また、図３に示すように、一対のプレート１６，１６のそれぞれには、プーリ２２に掛け回されたベルト２０のキャリア部分を支持して、キャリア部分の弛みを防止する上支持部材１７ａと、プーリ２２に掛け回されたベルト２０のリターン部分を支持して、リターン部分の弛みを防止する下支持部材１７ｂと、がそれぞれ取り付けられる。 As shown in FIG. 3, each of the pair of plates 16, 16 is fitted with an upper support member 17a that supports the carrier portion of the belt 20 looped around the pulley 22 and prevents the carrier portion from slackening, and a lower support member 17b that supports the return portion of the belt 20 looped around the pulley 22 and prevents the return portion from slackening.
　上支持部材１７ａ及び下支持部材１７ｂは、プレート１６にそれぞれネジ止めによって取り付けられる。上支持部材１７ａ及び下支持部材１７ｂには、ベルト２０が収容され、幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）の移動を防止する溝１７ｃ，１７ｄがそれぞれ設けられる。 The upper support member 17a and the lower support member 17b are each attached to the plate 16 by screwing. The upper support member 17a and the lower support member 17b are each provided with grooves 17c and 17d that house the belt 20 and prevent movement in the width direction (Y-axis direction).
　図１及び図３に示すように、パレット搬送装置１０は、ベルト２０を循環させる駆動機構３０は、ベルト２０が掛け回される駆動プーリ２３と、駆動プーリ２３を回転させるモータ３１と、を備える。 As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the pallet conveying device 10 includes a drive mechanism 30 that circulates the belt 20, which includes a drive pulley 23 around which the belt 20 is wound, and a motor 31 that rotates the drive pulley 23.
　具体的には、図３に示すように、一対のプレート１６の端部には、支持板３２がそれぞれ取付けられ、これらの支持板３２に駆動軸２３ａが架設されて枢支される。駆動軸２３ａにおける一対のプレート１６の間の領域には、同形同大の一対の駆動プーリ２３が取り付けられる。 Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, support plates 32 are attached to the ends of the pair of plates 16, and the drive shaft 23a is supported by these support plates 32. A pair of drive pulleys 23 of the same shape and size are attached to the area of the drive shaft 23a between the pair of plates 16.
　駆動プーリ２３は、プーリ２２と同一平面上に設けられる。図１に示すように、駆動プーリ２３には、プーリ２２によって転向したベルト２０が掛け回される。また、支持板３２には、駆動プーリ２３に掛け回されたベルト２０を下支持部材１７ｂに案内する転向プーリ２４が枢支される。 The drive pulley 23 is provided on the same plane as the pulley 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the belt 20 redirected by the pulley 22 is looped around the drive pulley 23. In addition, a redirecting pulley 24 that guides the belt 20 looped around the drive pulley 23 to the lower support member 17b is pivotally supported on the support plate 32.
　図３に示すように、モータ３１は、一方の支持板３２に取り付けられ、図示しないコントローラからの指令により駆動して駆動軸２３ａを回転させる。モータ３１は、駆動軸２３ａを回転させることで、駆動軸２３ａに取り付けられた一対の駆動プーリ２３を同時に同方向に回転させ、一対のベルト２０を同一方向に循環させる。 As shown in FIG. 3, the motor 31 is attached to one of the support plates 32, and is driven by commands from a controller (not shown) to rotate the drive shaft 23a. By rotating the drive shaft 23a, the motor 31 simultaneously rotates the pair of drive pulleys 23 attached to the drive shaft 23a in the same direction, and circulates the pair of belts 20 in the same direction.
　本実施形態におけるベルト２０は、いわゆる歯付きベルトが用いられる。具体的には、図１の拡大図や図２などに示すように、ベルト２０には、パレット１１の搭載面である外側の面に幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）に延びる第１係合部としての凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂが長手方向（Ｘ軸方向に）に交互に連続して形成される。 The belt 20 in this embodiment is a so-called toothed belt. Specifically, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the belt 20 has projections 20a and 20b formed alternately and continuously in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) as first engagement parts extending in the width direction (Y-axis direction) on the outer surface, which is the mounting surface of the pallet 11.
　図２及び図３に示すように、パレット１１は、上面視において方形状を成してその両側がベルト２０に支持される台座１２と、台座１２の下部の幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）の両側にその側縁から突出するように水平に設けられた鍔状部材１５と、台座１２の上面に設けられ工作機１～４により加工されるワーク（図示せず）を搭載する搭載具１３と、台座１２の下面に設けられベルト２０に直接接触する接触材１４と、を備える。 As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pallet 11 comprises a base 12 that is rectangular in top view and has both sides supported by the belt 20, a flange-like member 15 that is horizontally provided on both sides of the lower part of the base 12 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) so as to protrude from the side edges, a mounting device 13 that is provided on the upper surface of the base 12 and that mounts a workpiece (not shown) to be machined by the machine tools 1 to 4, and a contact material 14 that is provided on the underside of the base 12 and that directly contacts the belt 20.
　なお、搭載具１３は、搬送しようとするワークの種類によりその形状が異なる。また、搭載具１３を備えたパレット１１は、複数のワークを連続的に搬送するために、複数準備される。 The shape of the mounting fixture 13 varies depending on the type of workpiece to be transported. In addition, multiple pallets 11 equipped with mounting fixtures 13 are prepared in order to transport multiple workpieces continuously.
　図１の拡大図に示すように、パレット１１の台座１２に設けられた接触材１４には、ベルト２０の凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂに係合可能な第２係合部としての凹凸１４ａ，１４ｂが形成される。接触材１４の凹凸１４ａ，１４ｂは、ベルト２０の凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂと係合するように、断面形状において凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂと同形同大に形成される。 As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1, the contact material 14 provided on the base 12 of the pallet 11 has projections 14a and 14b formed thereon as second engagement parts that can engage with the projections 20a and 20b of the belt 20. The projections 14a and 14b of the contact material 14 are formed to have the same shape and size as the projections 20a and 20b in cross section so as to engage with the projections 20a and 20b of the belt 20.
　パレット１１がベルト２０に搭載され、接触材１４がベルト２０に重合すると、接触材１４に形成された凹凸１４ａ，１４ｂが、ベルト２０に形成された凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂに係合する。これにより、ベルト２０と独立したパレット１１のＸ軸方向の移動（パレット１１との相対的な移動）が禁止される。言い換えると、パレット１１とベルト２０とが一体に移動する。 When the pallet 11 is loaded onto the belt 20 and the contact material 14 overlaps the belt 20, the irregularities 14a, 14b formed on the contact material 14 engage with the irregularities 20a, 20b formed on the belt 20. This prohibits the pallet 11 from moving in the X-axis direction independent of the belt 20 (movement relative to the pallet 11). In other words, the pallet 11 and the belt 20 move together.
　図３に示すように、ベルト２０が接触材１４を介してパレット１１の幅方向の両側を支持した状態では、台座１２の両側に設けられた鍔状部材１５は、それぞれ、プレート１６の上方を通過して、プレート１６の外側にまで突出している。そして、プレート１６の上縁には、鍔状部材１５を含むパレット１１を幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）における外側から所定の隙間を空けて挟むように一対のガイド部材３６が取り付けられる。 As shown in Figure 3, when the belt 20 supports both sides of the pallet 11 in the width direction via the contact material 14, the flange-shaped members 15 provided on both sides of the base 12 each pass above the plate 16 and protrude to the outside of the plate 16. A pair of guide members 36 are attached to the upper edge of the plate 16 so as to sandwich the pallet 11 including the flange-shaped members 15 from the outside in the width direction (Y-axis direction) with a specified gap between them.
　ガイド部材３６は、鍔状部材１５よりも幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）における外側に突出するように形成され、プレート１６の上縁に取付けられる。ガイド部材３６には、鍔状部材１５の幅方向における外側の縁に対向する段部３６ａが形成される。段部３６ａが鍔状部材１５の外縁に若干の隙間をもって対向することにより、鍔状部材１５を含むパレット１１の搬送方向における移動を阻害することなく、幅方向のずれを防止できる。 The guide member 36 is formed to protrude outward in the width direction (Y-axis direction) beyond the flange-shaped member 15, and is attached to the upper edge of the plate 16. The guide member 36 is formed with a step 36a that faces the outer edge of the flange-shaped member 15 in the width direction. The step 36a faces the outer edge of the flange-shaped member 15 with a small gap, preventing misalignment in the width direction without impeding the movement of the pallet 11 including the flange-shaped member 15 in the transport direction.
　また、ガイド部材３６の上方に突出した部分上面には、押さえ部材１８が取り付けられる。押さえ部材１８は、例えば、パレット１１における鍔状部材１５の上面と対向する位置まで延びる平板によって形成される。鉛直方向（Ｚ軸方向）における押さえ部材１８と鍔状部材１５との間、及び鍔状部材１５とガイド部材３６との間には、所定の隙間が設けられている。また、押さえ部材１８は、台座１２のＹ軸方向の側面との間に所定の隙間をあけて対向するように設けられる。これにより、台座１２の幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）の移動を防止することができる。 A pressing member 18 is attached to the upper surface of the portion of the guide member 36 that protrudes upward. The pressing member 18 is formed, for example, by a flat plate that extends to a position facing the upper surface of the flange-shaped member 15 of the pallet 11. A predetermined gap is provided between the pressing member 18 and the flange-shaped member 15 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and between the flange-shaped member 15 and the guide member 36. The pressing member 18 is also provided so as to face the side surface of the base 12 in the Y-axis direction with a predetermined gap between them. This makes it possible to prevent movement of the base 12 in the width direction (Y-axis direction).
　また、押さえ部材１８を設けることにより、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１のベルト２０からの浮きやベルト２０に対する傾きが防止される。これにより、パレット１１の接触材１４に形成された凹凸１４ａ，１４ｂと、ベルト２０に形成された凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂと、の係合状態を維持することができ、ベルト２０とパレット１１との相対移動を禁止することができる。つまり、パレット１１のベルト２０による搬送を確実に行うことができる。 In addition, by providing the pressing member 18, the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 is prevented from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20. This makes it possible to maintain an engagement state between the irregularities 14a, 14b formed on the contact material 14 of the pallet 11 and the irregularities 20a, 20b formed on the belt 20, and makes it possible to prohibit relative movement between the belt 20 and the pallet 11. In other words, the pallet 11 can be transported reliably by the belt 20.
　パレット搬送装置１０では、モータ３１を駆動して、パレット１１が搭載されたベルト２０を循環させると、パレット１１は、ベルト２０に搭載された状態で移動して、ベルト２０の移動量に等しい量だけ搬送される。 In the pallet conveying device 10, when the motor 31 is driven to circulate the belt 20 on which the pallet 11 is mounted, the pallet 11 moves while mounted on the belt 20 and is conveyed a distance equal to the movement of the belt 20.
　図１、図４～図９に示すように、パレット搬送装置１０は、ベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１を、その搬送途中において持ち上げるパレット持ち上げ装置５０をさらに備える。 As shown in Figures 1 and 4 to 9, the pallet conveying device 10 further includes a pallet lifting device 50 that lifts the pallet 11, which is being conveyed on the belt 20, during the conveyance.
　図４などに示すように、パレット持ち上げ装置５０は、Ｙ軸方向において一対のプレート１６を挟むように（一対のプレート１６の外側に）設けられた一対の昇降アクチュエータ５１と、昇降アクチュエータ５１により昇降可能に設けられ、下降位置においてベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１を搭載可能に構成された搭載部材５２と、を備える。 As shown in FIG. 4 etc., the pallet lifting device 50 includes a pair of lifting actuators 51 arranged to sandwich the pair of plates 16 in the Y-axis direction (outside the pair of plates 16), and a mounting member 52 that can be raised and lowered by the lifting actuators 51 and is configured to be capable of mounting the pallet 11 that is to be transported by being loaded onto the belt 20 in the lowered position.
　図４及び図５に示すように、架台９には、パレット持ち上げ装置５０を構成する台板５３が、一対のパレット持ち上げ装置５０のそれぞれに対して設置される。台板５３には、搬送方向（Ｘ軸方向）に離間する一対の支柱５４，５４（図５参照）が立設され、一対の支柱５４，５４の上端には、取付板５６が架設される。 As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a base plate 53 constituting the pallet lifting device 50 is installed on the stand 9 for each of the pair of pallet lifting devices 50. A pair of support posts 54, 54 (see Figure 5) spaced apart in the conveying direction (X-axis direction) are erected on the base plate 53, and a mounting plate 56 is erected on the upper ends of the pair of support posts 54, 54.
　本実施形態における昇降アクチュエータ５１は、例えば、流体圧シリンダによって構成される。昇降アクチュエータ５１は、鉛直方向（Ｚ軸方向）に配置され、ロッド５１ｂが取付板５６を下方から貫通するとともに、本体部５１ａの上部が取付板５６の下面に取り付けられる。 In this embodiment, the lift actuator 51 is, for example, a fluid pressure cylinder. The lift actuator 51 is disposed vertically (in the Z-axis direction), with the rod 51b penetrating the mounting plate 56 from below and the upper part of the main body 51a attached to the lower surface of the mounting plate 56.
　図５に示すように、昇降アクチュエータ５１のロッド５１ｂの先端側には、搭載部材５２が取り付けられる。ガイド部材３６には、搭載部材５２及び後述する固定機構６１が進入可能な切り欠き３６ｂが形成される。 As shown in FIG. 5, a mounting member 52 is attached to the tip side of the rod 51b of the lifting actuator 51. The guide member 36 is formed with a notch 36b into which the mounting member 52 and a fixing mechanism 61 (described later) can enter.
　図４に示すように、搭載部材５２は、ロッド５１ｂ（図５）が取り付けられる取付部５２ａと、取付部５２ａのプレート１６側の端縁に上方に突出して形成され、パレット１１が搭載される載置部５２ｂと、を有する。 As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting member 52 has an attachment portion 52a to which the rod 51b (FIG. 5) is attached, and a placement portion 52b that is formed by protruding upward from the edge of the attachment portion 52a on the plate 16 side and on which the pallet 11 is placed.
　ガイド部材３６の切り欠き３６ｂの長さＷ（図１及び図５参照）は、パレット１１の搬送方向の長さＬ１（図１参照）よりも長くなるように形成される。また、図５に示すように、搭載部材５２の長さＬ２は、パレット１１の搬送方向の長さＬ１（図１）と同等のものとされる。これにより、パレット１１及び搭載部材５２がガイド部材３６の切り欠き３６ｂに進入可能になるとともに、パレット１１とガイド部材３６との間、及び搭載部材５２とガイド部材３６との間に生じる隙間を極力小さくすることができる。 The length W (see Figures 1 and 5) of the notch 36b of the guide member 36 is formed to be longer than the length L1 (see Figure 1) of the pallet 11 in the transport direction. Also, as shown in Figure 5, the length L2 of the mounting member 52 is made equal to the length L1 (Figure 1) of the pallet 11 in the transport direction. This allows the pallet 11 and the mounting member 52 to enter the notch 36b of the guide member 36, and minimizes the gaps that occur between the pallet 11 and the guide member 36, and between the mounting member 52 and the guide member 36.
　図４及び図５に示すように、ロッド５１ｂが本体部５１ａに没入した状態では、搭載部材５２は下降状態にある。この状態では、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１の鍔状部材１５は、搭載部材５２における載置部５２ｂの上方を通過するようになっている。即ち、搭載部材５２が下降した状態においては、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１は、搭載部材５２や押し付け板６２に接触することなく、パレット持ち上げ装置５０を通過することができるようになっている。 As shown in Figures 4 and 5, when the rod 51b is immersed in the main body 51a, the mounting member 52 is in a lowered state. In this state, the flange member 15 of the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 passes above the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52. In other words, when the mounting member 52 is in a lowered state, the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 can pass through the pallet lifting device 50 without coming into contact with the mounting member 52 or the pressing plate 62.
　パレット１１がパレット持ち上げ装置５０に対峙した状態、即ち、パレット１１の鍔状部材１５が搭載部材５２における載置部５２ｂの上に位置する状態で、図７に示すように、ロッド５１ｂを本体部５１ａから上方に突出させると、図６に示すように、昇降アクチュエータ５１がパレット１１を搭載部材５２の載置部５２ｂに搭載して上昇させる。これにより、搭載部材５２の載置部５２ｂに搭載させたパレット１１は、切り欠き３６ｂから離間する（図７）。 When the pallet 11 faces the pallet lifting device 50, i.e., when the brim member 15 of the pallet 11 is positioned on the mounting portion 52b of the mounting member 52, as shown in FIG. 7, the rod 51b is caused to protrude upward from the main body portion 51a, and as shown in FIG. 6, the lifting actuator 51 mounts the pallet 11 on the mounting portion 52b of the mounting member 52 and raises it. As a result, the pallet 11 mounted on the mounting portion 52b of the mounting member 52 moves away from the notch 36b (FIG. 7).
　パレット持ち上げ装置５０には、パレット１１を搭載した搭載部材５２が昇降アクチュエータ５１により所定の位置まで上昇したときに、搭載部材５２にパレット１１を固定する固定機構６１が設けられる。 The pallet lifting device 50 is provided with a fixing mechanism 61 that fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52 when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised to a predetermined position by the lifting actuator 51.
　図４及び図５に示すように、本実施形態における固定機構６１は、昇降アクチュエータ５１の搬送方向における両側に設けられ、搭載部材５２に対して上下動可能な昇降ロッド６４と、昇降ロッド６４の上端に、かつ、搭載部材５２の上方に搭載部材５２と所定の間隔を開けて取り付けられた押し付け板６２と、押し付け板６２と搭載部材５２の間隔を広げるように付勢する付勢部材としてのスプリング６３（図５）と、昇降ロッド６４の下端に取り付けられたスライドプレート６６と、パレット１１を搭載した搭載部材５２が昇降アクチュエータ５１により所定の位置まで上昇したときに、昇降ロッド６４のそれ以上の上昇を禁止する制限部材としてのカラー６７ａと、を備える。 As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the fixing mechanism 61 in this embodiment is provided on both sides of the lifting actuator 51 in the transport direction and includes a lifting rod 64 that can move up and down relative to the mounting member 52, a pressing plate 62 attached to the upper end of the lifting rod 64 above the mounting member 52 with a predetermined distance from the mounting member 52, a spring 63 (Figure 5) as a biasing member that biases the pressing plate 62 to widen the distance between the mounting member 52, a slide plate 66 attached to the lower end of the lifting rod 64, and a collar 67a as a limiting member that prohibits the lifting rod 64 from rising any further when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised to a predetermined position by the lifting actuator 51.
　図５に示すように、取付板５６には、昇降ロッド６４をガイドするリニアブッシュ６７が取り付けられる。搭載部材５２の取付部５２ａにも、リニアブッシュ６７と同軸にリニアブッシュ６９が取り付けられる。また、取付板５６には、リニアブッシュ６７を内部に収容し、制限部材となるカラー６７ａが取り付けられる。カラー６７ａは、リニアブッシュ６７を保護する機能も有している。カラー６７ａのＺ軸方向における長さは、リニアブッシュ６７より長くなっている。 As shown in FIG. 5, a linear bushing 67 that guides the lifting rod 64 is attached to the mounting plate 56. A linear bushing 69 is also attached to the mounting portion 52a of the mounting member 52, coaxially with the linear bushing 67. In addition, a collar 67a that houses the linear bushing 67 and serves as a limiting member is attached to the mounting plate 56. The collar 67a also functions to protect the linear bushing 67. The length of the collar 67a in the Z-axis direction is longer than that of the linear bushing 67.
　昇降ロッド６４は、軸方向に移動可能にリニアブッシュ６７とリニアブッシュ６９とを挿通する。一対の昇降ロッド６４の上端には、押し付け板６２が架設される。 The lifting rods 64 are inserted through the linear bushings 67 and 69 so as to be movable in the axial direction. A pressing plate 62 is mounted on the upper ends of the pair of lifting rods 64.
　スプリング６３は、例えば、搭載部材５２と押し付け板６２の間に介装されたコイルスプリングである。昇降アクチュエータ５１のロッド５１ｂの先端には、フローティングジョイント５７が設けられる。また、フローティングジョイント５７は、搭載部材５２に取り付けられる。即ち、搭載部材５２は、フローティングジョイント５７を介してロッド５１ｂの先端に取り付けられる。 The spring 63 is, for example, a coil spring interposed between the mounting member 52 and the pressing plate 62. A floating joint 57 is provided at the tip of the rod 51b of the lifting actuator 51. The floating joint 57 is also attached to the mounting member 52. In other words, the mounting member 52 is attached to the tip of the rod 51b via the floating joint 57.
　フローティングジョイント５７には、搭載部材５２を貫通するように、ストリッパボルト５８がロッド５１ｂと同軸に設けられる。また、ストリッパボルト５８は、ロッド５１ｂを延長するように設けられ、押し付け板６２に取り付けられたストッパ５９を貫通する。ストリッパボルト５８の頭部がストッパ５９に当接することにより、スプリング６３の付勢力によって搭載部材５２と押し付け板６２との間が所定値以上に開くことを防止している（図５参照）。 A stripper bolt 58 is provided coaxially with the rod 51b in the floating joint 57 so as to pass through the mounting member 52. The stripper bolt 58 is also provided so as to extend the rod 51b, and passes through a stopper 59 attached to the pressing plate 62. The head of the stripper bolt 58 abuts against the stopper 59, and the biasing force of the spring 63 prevents the mounting member 52 and the pressing plate 62 from opening more than a predetermined value (see Figure 5).
　図７に示すように、一対の昇降ロッド６４の下部には、これらに渡ってスライドプレート６６が取り付けられる。一対の昇降ロッド６４が上昇して、制限部材となるカラー６７ａにスライドプレート６６が当接すると、一対の昇降ロッド６４のそれ以上の上昇が規制される。 As shown in FIG. 7, a slide plate 66 is attached to the lower part of the pair of lifting rods 64, spanning them. When the pair of lifting rods 64 rise and the slide plate 66 comes into contact with the collar 67a, which acts as a restricting member, further rise of the pair of lifting rods 64 is restricted.
　したがって、このような構成の固定機構６１では、パレット１１がパレット持ち上げ装置５０の搭載部材５２に搭載されて上昇して、カラー６７ａがスライドプレート６６に当接すると、一対の昇降ロッド６４に設けられた押し付け板６２のそれ以上の上昇が規制される。 Therefore, in a fixing mechanism 61 configured in this way, when the pallet 11 is mounted on the mounting member 52 of the pallet lifting device 50 and rises, and the collar 67a abuts against the slide plate 66, the further rise of the pressing plate 62 provided on the pair of lifting rods 64 is restricted.
　しかしながら、この状態から搭載部材５２のさらなる上昇は許容されるので、昇降アクチュエータ５１のロッド５１ｂが本体部５１ａから上方にさらに突出させると、図８及び図９に示すように、押し付け板６２と搭載部材５２の間隔はスプリング６３の付勢力に抗して狭まる。そして、最終的には、搭載部材５２の載置部５２ｂは、押し付け板６２とともにパレット１１における鍔状部材１５を挟持する。これにより、パレット１１は搭載部材５２上で固定される。 However, further elevation of the mounting member 52 is permitted from this state, so when the rod 51b of the lifting actuator 51 protrudes further upward from the main body portion 51a, the gap between the pressing plate 62 and the mounting member 52 narrows against the biasing force of the spring 63, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Then, finally, the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52, together with the pressing plate 62, clamps the flange-shaped member 15 on the pallet 11. This fixes the pallet 11 on the mounting member 52.
　また、図４に示すように、搭載部材５２には、鍔状部材１５に向かって突出し、先端に向かって先細となるピン５２ｃが設けられる。また、鍔状部材１５には、ピン５２ｃが進入可能な孔１５ａが設けられる。 As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting member 52 is provided with a pin 52c that protrudes toward the flange-shaped member 15 and tapers toward the tip. The flange-shaped member 15 is also provided with a hole 15a through which the pin 52c can enter.
　本実施形態では、ピン５２ｃは、搭載部材５２の対角位置に形成され（図２）、孔１５ａの内径は、ピン５２ｃの外径よりもわずかに大きくなるように形成される。 In this embodiment, the pins 52c are formed at diagonal positions on the mounting member 52 (Figure 2), and the inner diameter of the holes 15a is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pins 52c.
　このため、押し付け板６２と搭載部材５２との間隔が、スプリング６３の付勢力に抗して狭まり、搭載部材５２の載置部５２ｂが押し付け板６２とともにパレット１１の鍔状部材１５を挟持すると（図８）、図８の拡大図に示すように、ピン５２ｃがパレット１１の鍔状部材１５における孔１５ａに進入する。この状態では、パレット１１は搭載部材５２の正規の位置に搭載されることになる。なお、ここでいう「正規の位置」とは、パレット１１のＸ軸方向及びＹ軸方向における傾き、及び、Ｘ軸方向及びＹ軸方向に対するずれが無い状態を意味する。 As a result, the gap between the pressing plate 62 and the mounting member 52 narrows against the biasing force of the spring 63, and when the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52 clamps the flange-shaped member 15 of the pallet 11 together with the pressing plate 62 (Figure 8), the pin 52c enters the hole 15a in the flange-shaped member 15 of the pallet 11, as shown in the enlarged view of Figure 8. In this state, the pallet 11 is mounted in the correct position on the mounting member 52. Note that "correct position" here means a state in which the pallet 11 is not tilted in the X-axis or Y-axis directions, and is not misaligned in the X-axis or Y-axis directions.
　さらに、スライドプレート６６には、搭載部材５２が上昇したときに、ガイド部材３６に形成された切り欠き３６ｂを塞ぐ（切り欠き３６ｂ部分に進入する）予備ガイド部材７１が設けられる。予備ガイド部材７１は、パレット１１における鍔状部材１５のＹ軸方向の端部を側方、上方、及び下方から包囲する形状に形成される。予備ガイド部材７１は、ガイド部材３６と押さえ部材１８とによって形成される部分の断面形状と略同一の断面を有する。 Furthermore, the slide plate 66 is provided with a spare guide member 71 that closes the notch 36b formed in the guide member 36 (enters the notch 36b portion) when the mounting member 52 rises. The spare guide member 71 is formed in a shape that surrounds the end of the brim-shaped member 15 in the pallet 11 in the Y-axis direction from the sides, above, and below. The spare guide member 71 has a cross section that is approximately the same as the cross-sectional shape of the portion formed by the guide member 36 and the pressing member 18.
　即ち、予備ガイド部材７１は、搬送されたパレット１１の鍔状部材１５の外側面に対向する側壁部７１ａと、鍔状部材１５の上面に対向する上板部７１ｂと、を有する。 That is, the preliminary guide member 71 has a side wall portion 71a that faces the outer surface of the flange-shaped member 15 of the transported pallet 11, and an upper plate portion 71b that faces the upper surface of the flange-shaped member 15.
　また、予備ガイド部材７１は、スライドプレート６６に支柱７２を介して取り付けられる。スライドプレート６６がカラー６７ａに当接すると、スライドプレート６６とともに上昇した予備ガイド部材７１が、ガイド部材３６における切り欠き３６ｂに進入する。この状態では、予備ガイド部材７１を通過するパレット１１の鍔状部材１５の側面が側壁部７１ａと幅方向において若干の隙間をもって対向するとともに、鍔状部材１５の上面が上板部７１ｂと鉛直方向において若干の隙間をもって対向する。これにより、パレット１１の搬送方向における移動を阻害することなく、幅方向のずれ、及びパレット１１のベルト２０からの浮きやベルト２０に対しての傾きを防止できる。 The spare guide member 71 is attached to the slide plate 66 via a support 72. When the slide plate 66 abuts against the collar 67a, the spare guide member 71, which rises together with the slide plate 66, enters the notch 36b in the guide member 36. In this state, the side of the flange member 15 of the pallet 11 passing through the spare guide member 71 faces the side wall portion 71a with a slight gap in the width direction, and the top surface of the flange member 15 faces the upper plate portion 71b with a slight gap in the vertical direction. This prevents the pallet 11 from shifting in the width direction and from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20 without impeding the movement of the pallet 11 in the conveying direction.
　次に、パレット搬送装置１０によるパレット搬送方法を説明する。 Next, we will explain the pallet transport method using the pallet transport device 10.
　パレット搬送装置１０は、循環するベルト２０に加工用のワークが搭載された複数のパレット１１を順次搭載して搬送する。ベルト２０は、駆動機構３０によって循環移動される。具体的には、モータ３１を駆動させて一対の駆動プーリ２３を同時に回転させ、駆動プーリ２３に掛け回された一対のベルト２０を同一方向に循環させる。 The pallet conveying device 10 sequentially conveys a number of pallets 11 carrying workpieces to be processed on a circulating belt 20. The belt 20 is circulated by a drive mechanism 30. Specifically, the motor 31 is driven to rotate a pair of drive pulleys 23 simultaneously, and the pair of belts 20 wrapped around the drive pulleys 23 are circulated in the same direction.
　図示しないワークを搭載したパレット１１は、ベルト２０に搭載されることにより搬送され、ベルト２０による搬送経路に沿って設けられた工作機１～４（図２）の前まで搬送される。そして、パレット１１が工作機１～４の前まで搬送されると、ベルト２０の循環を一時的に停止して、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１を工作機１～４に対応させた位置で停止させる。これにより、工作機１～４によってパレット１１に搭載された図示しないワークを加工させることが可能になる。 Pallet 11 carrying workpieces (not shown) is transported by being placed on belt 20, and is transported in front of machine tools 1 to 4 (Figure 2) that are provided along the transport path of belt 20. Then, when pallet 11 is transported in front of machine tools 1 to 4, the circulation of belt 20 is temporarily stopped, and pallet 11 carried on belt 20 is stopped at a position corresponding to machine tools 1 to 4. This makes it possible for machine tools 1 to 4 to process the workpieces (not shown) carried on pallet 11.
　なお、図示しないワークは、パレット１１における搭載具１３に搭載されている。また、ワークを搭載したパレット１１は、ベルト２０の上流側端部においてベルト２０に搭載される。 The workpiece (not shown) is mounted on a mounting fixture 13 on the pallet 11. The pallet 11 carrying the workpiece is mounted on the belt 20 at the upstream end of the belt 20.
  また、パレット１１がベルト２０に搭載されると、パレット１１の接触材１４がベルト２０に重合する。このとき、図１の拡大図に示すように、接触材１４に形成された凹凸１４ａ，１４ｂは、ベルト２０に形成された凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂに係合するので、ベルト２０と独立したパレット１１のＸ軸方向の移動は禁止される。また、押さえ部材１８が設けられていることにより、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１のベルト２０からの浮きが防止される。これにより、凹凸１４ａ，１４ｂと凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂと係合が解消するようなことが防止される。 When the pallet 11 is loaded onto the belt 20, the contact material 14 of the pallet 11 overlaps the belt 20. At this time, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1, the irregularities 14a, 14b formed on the contact material 14 engage with the irregularities 20a, 20b formed on the belt 20, so movement of the pallet 11 in the X-axis direction independent of the belt 20 is prohibited. In addition, the presence of the pressing member 18 prevents the pallet 11 loaded onto the belt 20 from floating away from the belt 20. This prevents the unevenness 14a, 14b from disengaging from the unevenness 20a, 20b.
　このような構成を備えることにより、パレット１１は、ベルト２０の循環速度に等しい速度で下流側に搬送されることになる。そして、ベルト２０に対峙して設けられた工作機１の前にまで搬送された段階で、ベルト２０の循環を一時的に停止して、パレット１１の搬送を停止させることができる。 With this configuration, the pallet 11 is transported downstream at a speed equal to the circulation speed of the belt 20. Then, when the pallet 11 reaches the front of the machine tool 1 arranged opposite the belt 20, the circulation of the belt 20 can be temporarily stopped, thereby halting the transport of the pallet 11.
　パレット１１が工作機１に対峙して停止している間に、工作機１は、移動が停止されたパレット１１に搭載されたワーク（図示せず）の加工を行う。 While the pallet 11 is stopped facing the machine tool 1, the machine tool 1 processes the workpiece (not shown) mounted on the pallet 11, whose movement has been stopped.
　また、例えば、パレット１１に搭載されたワークの加工時に、別の図示しないワークを搭載したパレット１１をベルト２０の上流側端部に、工作機１と工作機２の間隔に等しい間隔を開けて搭載すると、その別のワークが搭載された次のパレット１１を、加工箇所の近傍に待機させておくことができる。 Also, for example, when a workpiece mounted on pallet 11 is being processed, if pallet 11 carrying another workpiece (not shown) is mounted on the upstream end of belt 20 with a gap equal to the gap between machine tool 1 and machine tool 2, the next pallet 11 carrying the other workpiece can be kept waiting near the processing location.
　パレット１１に搭載されたワークの工作機１による加工が終了すると、そのワークを搭載したパレット１１を下流側に向けて搬送する。具体的には、ベルト２０を循環させて、パレット１１をベルト２０とともに下流側に移動させる。 When the machining of the workpieces mounted on the pallet 11 by the machine tool 1 is completed, the pallet 11 carrying the workpieces is transported downstream. Specifically, the belt 20 is circulated to move the pallet 11 downstream together with the belt 20.
　そして、加工箇所より上流側の待機箇所にパレット１１を待機させている場合には、待機箇所におけるパレット１１が加工箇所に移動する。これにより、例えば、先のパレット１１が工作機１から移動して工作機２に対峙すると、後続のパレット１１は工作機１に対峙することになる。これにより、直ちにこれらのパレット１１に搭載されたワークの工作機１，２における加工を開始させることができる。 If the pallets 11 are waiting at a waiting location upstream of the processing location, the pallets 11 at the waiting location are moved to the processing location. As a result, for example, when the previous pallet 11 moves from machine tool 1 to face machine tool 2, the following pallet 11 will face machine tool 1. This allows the workpieces mounted on these pallets 11 to immediately start processing at machine tools 1 and 2.
　工作機１，２による加工が終了すると、これらのワークとともにパレット１１をさらに下流側に向けて搬送する。具体的には、ベルト２０を循環させて、パレット１１をさらに下流側に向かって移動させる。このようなパレット１１の搬送と停止を繰り返して、工作機１～４における必要な加工が施されたワークを搭載したパレット１１は、ベルト２０の下流側端部からワークとともに回収される。 Once machining by machine tools 1 and 2 is complete, the pallet 11 is transported further downstream together with the workpieces. Specifically, the belt 20 is circulated to move the pallet 11 further downstream. By repeatedly transporting and stopping the pallet 11 in this manner, the pallet 11 carrying the workpieces that have been subjected to the necessary machining by machine tools 1 to 4 is collected together with the workpieces from the downstream end of the belt 20.
　さらに、パレット搬送装置１０は、パレット持ち上げ装置５０を備えているので、ベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１をその搬送途中で持ち上げて、ベルト２０から離脱させることができる。 Furthermore, the pallet transport device 10 is equipped with a pallet lifting device 50, so that the pallet 11 being transported on the belt 20 can be lifted during transport and removed from the belt 20.
　パレット持ち上げ装置５０では、通常のパレット搬送状態において搭載部材５２を下降させておく（図４参照）。そして、通常のパレット搬送状態において、パレット１１がベルト２０に搭載された状態で搬送されると、プレート１６から側方に突出する鍔状部材１５が、搭載部材５２における載置部５２ｂの上方を通過する。つまり、図４に示す通常のパレット搬送状態では、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１のパレット持ち上げ装置５０を通過する移動が許容される。 In the pallet lifting device 50, the mounting member 52 is lowered in the normal pallet transport state (see Figure 4). Then, in the normal pallet transport state, when the pallet 11 is transported while mounted on the belt 20, the brim-like member 15 protruding laterally from the plate 16 passes above the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52. In other words, in the normal pallet transport state shown in Figure 4, the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 is allowed to move past the pallet lifting device 50.
　図５に示すように、ガイド部材３６には、パレット持ち上げ装置５０が設けられた箇所に切り欠き３６ｂが形成される。また、図５に示すように、パレット持ち上げ装置５０が設けられた箇所には、押さえ部材１８が存在しない。これにより、パレット１１の持ち上げに関しては、パレット１１がパレット持ち上げ装置５０に対峙した状態で、昇降アクチュエータ５１のロッド５１ｂを本体部５１ａから上方に突出させることにより（図６及び図７参照）、搭載部材５２の載置部５２ｂに搭載させたパレット１１を上昇させることができる。 As shown in Figure 5, the guide member 36 has a notch 36b formed at the location where the pallet lifting device 50 is provided. Also, as shown in Figure 5, no pressing member 18 is present at the location where the pallet lifting device 50 is provided. As a result, when the pallet 11 is raised, the rod 51b of the lifting actuator 51 is caused to protrude upward from the main body portion 51a (see Figures 6 and 7) while the pallet 11 faces the pallet lifting device 50, thereby raising the pallet 11 mounted on the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52.
　このようにして、パレット１１が持ち上げられると、持ち上げられたパレット１１はベルト２０から離脱する。そして、この状態でベルト２０を循環させると、持ち上げられたパレット１１を除く他のパレット１１は、ベルト２０の移動量に等しい量だけ搬送される。 In this way, when the pallet 11 is lifted, the lifted pallet 11 detaches from the belt 20. When the belt 20 is circulated in this state, the other pallets 11, excluding the lifted pallet 11, are transported a distance equal to the movement of the belt 20.
　例えば、持ち上げられたパレット１１を除く他のパレット１１を所定量搬送させた後、昇降アクチュエータ５１によって搭載部材５２を下降させ、持ち上げられていたパレット１１を搭載部材５２とともに下降させてベルト２０に再び搭載することにより、先行するパレット１１との間隔を拡大させたり、追従するパレット１１との間隔を減少させたりすることができる。 For example, after the remaining pallets 11, excluding the lifted pallet 11, have been transported a predetermined distance, the lifting actuator 51 is used to lower the mounting member 52, and the lifted pallet 11 is lowered together with the mounting member 52 and remounted on the belt 20, thereby increasing the gap between the preceding pallet 11 and decreasing the gap between the following pallet 11.
　また、図６及び図７に示すように、パレット持ち上げ装置５０におけるパレット１１の持ち上げ高さが、追従するパレット１１のワークの高さを超えるようであれば、パレット持ち上げ装置５０がパレット１１を持ち上げた状態で、ベルト２０を循環させることにより、追従する別のパレット１１を、持ち上げられたパレット１１の下に通過させることができる。これにより、パレット１１の搬送順位を変更させることもできる。 Also, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, if the lifting height of a pallet 11 by the pallet lifting device 50 exceeds the height of the work on the following pallet 11, the belt 20 can be circulated while the pallet lifting device 50 has lifted the pallet 11, allowing another following pallet 11 to pass under the lifted pallet 11. This also allows the transport order of the pallets 11 to be changed.
　また、例えば、パレット持ち上げ装置５０により持ち上げられたパレット１１の下を後続のパレット１１を通過させて、パレット持ち上げ装置５０より下流にある工作機４（図２）にその後続のパレット１１を対峙させるようにすれば、その後続のパレット１１に搭載されたワークに工作機４による加工を施すことも可能になる。 In addition, for example, if a subsequent pallet 11 passes under a pallet 11 lifted by a pallet lifting device 50 and faces a machine tool 4 (Figure 2) downstream of the pallet lifting device 50, it becomes possible for the machine tool 4 to machine the workpiece mounted on the subsequent pallet 11.
　本実施形態のパレット持ち上げ装置５０では、搭載部材５２が上昇したときに切り欠き３６ｂを塞ぐ予備ガイド部材７１をスライドプレート６６に設けている。これにより、持ち上げられたパレット１１の下を後続のパレット１１が通過する際に、予備ガイド部材７１を通って切り欠き３６ｂを通過することができる。 In the pallet lifting device 50 of this embodiment, a spare guide member 71 that closes the cutout 36b when the mounting member 52 is raised is provided on the slide plate 66. This allows the following pallet 11 to pass through the spare guide member 71 and cutout 36b when passing under the lifted pallet 11.
　そして、持ち上げられたパレット１１の下を後続のパレット１１が通過する際、予備ガイド部材７１を通過するパレット１１の鍔状部材１５と予備ガイド部材７１の側壁部７１ａ及び上板部７１ｂとがそれぞれ幅方向及び上方に隙間をもって対向する。これにより、後続のパレット１１の搬送方向における移動を阻害することなく、幅方向のずれ、及びパレット１１のベルト２０からの浮きやベルト２０に対しての傾きを防止することができる。したがって、持ち上げられたパレット１１の下を後続のパレット１１は、循環するベルト２０に搭載された状態で持ち上げられたパレット１１の下を速やかに通過することができる。 When the following pallet 11 passes under the lifted pallet 11, the brim member 15 of the pallet 11 passing through the preliminary guide member 71 faces the side wall portion 71a and the upper plate portion 71b of the preliminary guide member 71 with gaps in the width direction and upward, respectively. This makes it possible to prevent the following pallet 11 from shifting in the width direction, and from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20, without impeding the movement of the following pallet 11 in the conveying direction. Therefore, the following pallet 11 can quickly pass under the lifted pallet 11 while being mounted on the circulating belt 20.
　また、パレット持ち上げ装置５０によって持ち上げられた状態のパレット１１を工作機３（図２）に対峙させれば、工作機３によって持ち上げた状態のパレット１１に搭載されたワークに加工を施すこともできる。 In addition, if the pallet 11 lifted by the pallet lifting device 50 is placed opposite the machine tool 3 (Figure 2), the workpiece mounted on the pallet 11 lifted by the machine tool 3 can be machined.
　パレット持ち上げ装置５０は、パレット１１を搭載した搭載部材５２が昇降アクチュエータ５１により上昇した状態で、パレット１１を搭載部材５２とともに挟んでパレット１１を搭載部材５２に固定する固定機構６１を備えている。これにより、パレット１１に搭載されたワークが加工途中にずれてしまうことを防止できるとともに、ワークの加工に支障を生じさせることを防止できる。 The pallet lifting device 50 is equipped with a fixing mechanism 61 that clamps the pallet 11 together with the mounting member 52 and fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52 when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised by the lifting actuator 51. This prevents the workpiece mounted on the pallet 11 from shifting during processing, and also prevents any disruption to the processing of the workpiece.
　特に、押し付け板６２には、パレット１１における鍔状部材１５の側面に接触してパレット１１の幅方向の移動を制限する段部６２ａが形成されているので、下降状態の搭載部材５２にパレット１１が搭載されたときに多少のずれが生じていても、搭載部材５２が上昇する間に段部６２ａによってそのずれを解消させることができる。そして、パレット１１がさらに上昇すると、ずれが解消された状態のパレット１１は、固定機構６１によって搭載部材５２に固定される。これにより、上昇位置にあるパレット１１に搭載されたワークは、ずれのない状態で加工が可能となる。 In particular, the pressing plate 62 is formed with a step 62a that contacts the side of the flange-shaped member 15 on the pallet 11 to limit the movement of the pallet 11 in the width direction, so that even if some misalignment occurs when the pallet 11 is mounted on the mounting member 52 in the lowered state, the step 62a can eliminate the misalignment while the mounting member 52 is rising. Then, when the pallet 11 rises further, the pallet 11 in its misaligned state is fixed to the mounting member 52 by the fixing mechanism 61. This allows the workpiece mounted on the pallet 11 in the raised position to be machined without any misalignment.
　即ち、下降位置にある搭載部材５２にパレット１１が搭載された状態で、パレット１１に多少のずれが生じていても、上昇状態になるまでにそのずれを解消させることができるので、高度な位置決めを前提とする加工も可能となる。 In other words, even if the pallet 11 is slightly misaligned when it is mounted on the mounting member 52 in the lowered position, the misalignment can be eliminated before it reaches the raised position, making it possible to carry out processing that requires precise positioning.
　また、パレット持ち上げ装置５０では、図４に示すように、搭載部材５２に先端に向かって先細となるピン５２ｃが鍔状部材１５に向かって突出するように設けられている。さらに、鍔状部材１５にはピン５２ｃが進入可能な孔１５ａが設けられている。そして、図８に示すように、搭載部材５２の載置部５２ｂが、押し付け板６２とともにパレット１１における鍔状部材１５を挟持すると、図８の拡大図に示すように、ピン５２ｃがパレット１１の鍔状部材１５における孔１５ａに進入する。 In addition, in the pallet lifting device 50, as shown in FIG. 4, the mounting member 52 is provided with a pin 52c that tapers toward the tip and protrudes toward the flange-shaped member 15. Furthermore, the flange-shaped member 15 is provided with a hole 15a through which the pin 52c can enter. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when the placement portion 52b of the mounting member 52 clamps the flange-shaped member 15 on the pallet 11 together with the pressing plate 62, the pin 52c enters the hole 15a in the flange-shaped member 15 of the pallet 11, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 8.
　これにより、パレット１１が搭載部材５２に搭載された状態で、多少のずれが生じていても、固定機構６１がパレット１１を搭載部材５２に固定する間に、先細のピン５２ｃが孔１５ａに進入することで、パレット１１を搭載部材５２の正規の位置に戻すことができる。さらに、このようにピン５２ｃが孔１５ａに進入することにより、工作機３による加工中にパレット１１のずれをより確実に防止できる。 As a result, even if the pallet 11 is slightly misaligned when mounted on the mounting member 52, the tapered pins 52c can enter the holes 15a while the fixing mechanism 61 is fixing the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52, returning the pallet 11 to its correct position on the mounting member 52. Furthermore, by having the pins 52c enter the holes 15a in this manner, it is possible to more reliably prevent the pallet 11 from misaligning during machining by the machine tool 3.
　また、上記実施形態では、一対のピン５２ｃを搭載部材５２の対角位置に形成しているので（図２）、パレット１１の幅方向（Ｙ軸方向）の両側にあるピン５２ｃの間隔を、ピン５２ｃが対称位置にある場合（例えば、Ｘ軸の位置が同じであってＹ軸方向に間隔を開けてピン５２ｃが形成されている場合）に比較して大きくできる。これにより、パレット１１の搭載部材５２に対するずれの量を減少させて、より正規の位置に搭載させることが可能になる。 In addition, in the above embodiment, a pair of pins 52c are formed at diagonal positions on the mounting member 52 (Figure 2), so the distance between the pins 52c on both sides in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the pallet 11 can be made larger than when the pins 52c are in symmetrical positions (for example, when the pins 52c are formed at the same position on the X-axis and spaced apart in the Y-axis direction). This reduces the amount of misalignment of the pallet 11 with respect to the mounting member 52, making it possible to mount the pallet 11 in a more correct position.
　なお、上記実施形態では、台座１２の下部の両側に接触材１４を設けて、接触材１４をベルト２０に重合させる場合を例に説明したが、ベルト２０に搭載したパレット１１を搬送しうる限り、接触材１４を設けることなく、台座１２を直接ベルト２０に搭載するようにしても良い。 In the above embodiment, the contact materials 14 are provided on both sides of the lower part of the base 12, and the contact materials 14 are superimposed on the belt 20. However, as long as the pallet 11 loaded on the belt 20 can be transported, the base 12 may be loaded directly on the belt 20 without providing the contact materials 14.
　また、上記実施形態では、図１の拡大図に示すように、ベルト２０は、パレット１１の搭載面である外側の面に幅方向に延びる凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂが長手方向に交互に連続して形成された、いわゆる歯付きベルトが用いられる場合を例に説明した。しかしながら、ベルト２０に搭載したパレット１１を正確に搬送しうる限り、ベルト２０は、凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂの無いベルトであっても良い。 In the above embodiment, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1, the belt 20 is a so-called toothed belt, in which unevenness 20a, 20b extending in the width direction is formed alternately and continuously in the longitudinal direction on the outer surface, which is the mounting surface of the pallet 11. However, as long as the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 can be accurately transported, the belt 20 may be a belt without unevenness 20a, 20b.
　また、上記実施形態では、一対のピン５２ｃが搭載部材５２に形成される場合を示したけれども、パレット１１のずれを解消させることが可能な限り、ピン５２ｃは、どのような位置に設けられていてもよい。具体的には、ピン５２ｃを押し付け板６２に形成しても良い。 In the above embodiment, a pair of pins 52c are formed on the mounting member 52, but the pins 52c may be provided in any position as long as the misalignment of the pallet 11 can be eliminated. Specifically, the pins 52c may be formed on the pressing plate 62.
　また、上記実施形態では、４台の工作機１～４を連結するパレット搬送装置１０を説明した。しかしながら、パレット搬送装置１０は、図示しないが、５台以上の工作機を連結するようにしても良い。工作機の増加による加工工程が増加しても、移動するベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１を搬送途中に持ち上げるパレット持ち上げ装置５０を設けることにより、ワークを搭載するパレット１１の間隔（ピッチ）を変えて、必要とされるパレット１１の数量を減少させることが可能となる。 In the above embodiment, the pallet transport device 10 connecting four machine tools 1 to 4 has been described. However, although not shown, the pallet transport device 10 may also be configured to connect five or more machine tools. Even if the number of processing steps increases due to an increase in the number of machine tools, by providing a pallet lifting device 50 that lifts the pallets 11, which are transported on the moving belt 20, during transport, it is possible to change the spacing (pitch) between the pallets 11 carrying the workpieces and reduce the number of pallets 11 required.
　さらに、上記実施形態では、パレット搬送装置１０が、パレット持ち上げ装置５０を１台備える場合を説明した。しかしながら、パレット搬送装置１０は、２台以上のパレット持ち上げ装置５０を備えていても良い。２台以上のパレット持ち上げ装置５０を備えることにより、工作機の増加による加工工程が増加しても、パレット１１の間隔（ピッチ）や順位を代える箇所が増加して、多様なパレット１１の搬送態様が可能となる。 Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the pallet transport device 10 is described as having one pallet lifting device 50. However, the pallet transport device 10 may be provided with two or more pallet lifting devices 50. By providing two or more pallet lifting devices 50, even if the number of processing steps increases due to an increase in machine tools, the number of places where the spacing (pitch) or order of the pallets 11 can be changed increases, making it possible to transport the pallets 11 in a variety of ways.
　以下、本発明の実施形態の構成、作用、及び効果をまとめて説明する。 The configuration, operation, and effects of the embodiment of the present invention are summarized below.
　パレット持ち上げ装置５０は、移動するベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１を搬送途中に持ち上げる。パレット持ち上げ装置５０は、ベルト２０の両側にベルト２０を挟むように設けられた昇降アクチュエータ５１と、昇降アクチュエータ５１により昇降可能に設けられ、下降位置でベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１を搭載可能に構成された搭載部材５２と、パレット１１を搭載した搭載部材５２が昇降アクチュエータ５１により上昇した状態で、パレット１１を搭載部材５２とともに挟んでパレット１１を搭載部材５２に固定する固定機構６１と、を備える。 The pallet lifting device 50 lifts the pallet 11 that is loaded onto the moving belt 20 and transported during transport. The pallet lifting device 50 includes a lifting actuator 51 provided on both sides of the belt 20 so as to sandwich the belt 20, a mounting member 52 that is provided so as to be raised and lowered by the lifting actuator 51 and configured so as to be capable of mounting the pallet 11 that is loaded onto the belt 20 and transported in the lowered position, and a fixing mechanism 61 that fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52 by clamping the pallet 11 together with the mounting member 52 when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised by the lifting actuator 51.
　この構成では、パレット１１を搭載した搭載部材５２が上昇した状態で固定機構６１がパレット１１を搭載部材５２に固定するので、パレット１１が下降状態の搭載部材５２に搭載された状態で、多少のずれが生じていても、搭載部材５２が上昇する過程においてずれを解消させることにより、パレット１１のずれを持ち上げた段階で解消させることができる。 In this configuration, the fixing mechanism 61 fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52 in a raised state on which the pallet 11 is mounted. Therefore, even if there is some misalignment when the pallet 11 is mounted on the mounting member 52 in a lowered state, the misalignment can be eliminated when the pallet 11 is lifted by eliminating the misalignment as the mounting member 52 rises.
　また、パレット持ち上げ装置５０では、固定機構６１が、搭載部材５２に上下動可能に設けられた昇降ロッド６４と、昇降ロッド６４の上端に取り付けられ、搭載部材５２の上方に搭載部材５２と所定の間隔を開けて設けられた押し付け板６２と、押し付け板６２と搭載部材５２の間隔を広げるように付勢するスプリング６３（付勢部材）と、昇降ロッド６４の下端に取り付けられたスライドプレート６６と、搭載部材５２が昇降アクチュエータ５１により所定の位置まで上昇したときに、スライドプレート６６に当接して昇降ロッド６４の上昇を禁止するカラー６７ａ（制限部材）と、を備える。 In addition, in the pallet lifting device 50, the fixing mechanism 61 includes a lifting rod 64 that is mounted on the mounting member 52 so as to be able to move up and down, a pressing plate 62 that is attached to the upper end of the lifting rod 64 and is provided above the mounting member 52 with a predetermined distance therebetween, a spring 63 (biasing member) that biases the pressing plate 62 to widen the distance between the mounting member 52, a slide plate 66 that is attached to the lower end of the lifting rod 64, and a collar 67a (limiting member) that abuts against the slide plate 66 to prohibit the lifting rod 64 from rising when the mounting member 52 is raised to a predetermined position by the lifting actuator 51.
　この構成では、パレット１１を搭載した搭載部材５２が、昇降アクチュエータ５１により所定の位置まで上昇したときに、パレット１１が搭載部材５２に固定される。したがって、パレット１１を搭載した搭載部材５２が、所定の位置まで上昇する間に、パレット１１のずれを修正することができる。したがって、パレット１１を搭載部材５２に固定するまでに、ずれを修正するための十分な時間を確保できる。 In this configuration, when the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is raised to a predetermined position by the lifting actuator 51, the pallet 11 is fixed to the mounting member 52. Therefore, misalignment of the pallet 11 can be corrected while the mounting member 52 carrying the pallet 11 is rising to the predetermined position. Therefore, sufficient time can be secured to correct the misalignment before the pallet 11 is fixed to the mounting member 52.
　パレット持ち上げ装置５０では、押し付け板６２には、パレット１１の側面に対向し、パレット１１の幅方向の移動を制限する段部６２ａが形成される。 In the pallet lifting device 50, the pressing plate 62 is formed with a step 62a that faces the side of the pallet 11 and limits the movement of the pallet 11 in the width direction.
　この構成では、下降状態の搭載部材５２にパレット１１が搭載されたときに多少のずれが生じていても、搭載部材５２が上昇する間に段部６２ａによってそのずれを解消させることができる。 In this configuration, even if some misalignment occurs when the pallet 11 is mounted on the mounting member 52 in the lowered state, the step portion 62a can eliminate the misalignment while the mounting member 52 is rising.
　パレット持ち上げ装置５０は、搭載部材５２又は押し付け板６２のいずれか一方の対角位置に形成されたピン５２ｃと、パレット１１に形成されピン５２ｃが進入可能な孔１５ａと、をさらに備える。 The pallet lifting device 50 further includes a pin 52c formed at a diagonal position on either the mounting member 52 or the pressing plate 62, and a hole 15a formed in the pallet 11 through which the pin 52c can enter.
　この構成では、固定機構６１がパレット１１を搭載部材５２に固定する間に、ピン５２ｃが孔１５ａに進入することで、パレット１１を搭載部材５２の正規の位置に戻すことができる。さらに、ピン５２ｃが孔１５ａに進入することにより、工作機３による加工中にパレット１１のずれをより確実に防止できる。 In this configuration, while the fixing mechanism 61 fixes the pallet 11 to the mounting member 52, the pins 52c enter the holes 15a, thereby returning the pallet 11 to its correct position on the mounting member 52. Furthermore, by having the pins 52c enter the holes 15a, it is possible to more reliably prevent the pallet 11 from shifting during machining by the machine tool 3.
　パレット搬送装置１０は、パレット持ち上げ装置５０を備える。パレット搬送装置１０では、幅方向に所定に間隔を開けて設けられた一対のプレート１６にベルト２０が循環可能に取り付けられ、ベルト２０に搭載された状態で一対のプレート１６の上方を通過してプレート１６の外側にまで突出する鍔状部材１５がパレット１１の両側に形成され、ベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１の両側における鍔状部材１５が下降状態の搭載部材５２に搭載できるようにパレット持ち上げ装置５０が取り付けられている。 The pallet transport device 10 is equipped with a pallet lifting device 50. In the pallet transport device 10, a belt 20 is circulatively attached to a pair of plates 16 spaced at a predetermined interval in the width direction, and flange-like members 15 that pass above the pair of plates 16 and protrude to the outside of the plates 16 while mounted on the belt 20 are formed on both sides of the pallet 11, and a pallet lifting device 50 is attached so that the flange-like members 15 on both sides of the pallet 11 transported on the belt 20 can be mounted on a mounting member 52 in a lowered state.
　この構成では、　持ち上げられたパレット１１を除く他のパレット１１を所定量搬送させた後、持ち上げられていたパレット１１を下降させてベルト２０に再び搭載することにより、先行するパレット１１との間隔を拡大させるとともに、追従するパレット１１との間隔を減少させることができる。 In this configuration, after the other pallets 11, excluding the lifted pallet 11, have been transported a predetermined distance, the lifted pallet 11 is lowered and placed back on the belt 20, thereby increasing the gap between the preceding pallet 11 and decreasing the gap between the following pallet 11.
　また、パレット搬送装置１０は、プレート１６の上部に取り付けられ、ベルト２０に搭載されて搬送されるパレット１１の幅方向の移動を制限するガイド部材３６をさらに備え、ガイド部材３６には、下降状態の搭載部材５２を収容可能な切り欠き３６ｂが形成される。パレット持ち上げ装置５０には、搭載部材５２が上昇した状態で切り欠き３６ｂを塞ぐ予備ガイド部材７１が設けられる。 The pallet transport device 10 also includes a guide member 36 that is attached to the top of the plate 16 and limits the widthwise movement of the pallet 11 that is loaded onto the belt 20 and transported, and the guide member 36 is formed with a notch 36b that can accommodate the mounting member 52 in a lowered state. The pallet lifting device 50 is provided with a spare guide member 71 that closes the notch 36b when the mounting member 52 is raised.
　この構成では、パレット持ち上げ装置５０がパレット１１を持ち上げた状態で、追従する別のパレット１１を、持ち上げられたパレット１１の下を通過させることにより、パレット１１の搬送順位を変更させることができる。 In this configuration, when the pallet lifting device 50 lifts a pallet 11, the transport order of the pallets 11 can be changed by passing another following pallet 11 under the lifted pallet 11.
　パレット搬送装置１０は、ベルト２０に設けられ、長手方向に交互に連続して設けられた凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂによって形成される第１係合部と、パレット１１に設けられ、第１係合部に係合可能な凹凸１４ａ，１４ｂによって形成される第２係合部と、ガイド部材３６に設けられ、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１のベルト２０からの浮きやベルト２０に対しての傾きを防止する押さえ部材１８と、をさらに備える。 The pallet transport device 10 further comprises a first engagement portion provided on the belt 20 and formed by projections and recesses 20a, 20b arranged alternately and continuously in the longitudinal direction, a second engagement portion provided on the pallet 11 and formed by projections and recesses 14a, 14b that can engage with the first engagement portion, and a pressing member 18 provided on the guide member 36 to prevent the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20.
　この構成では、押さえ部材１８を備えているので、ベルト２０に搭載されたパレット１１のベルト２０からの浮きやベルト２０に対する傾きが防止される。これにより、パレット１１の接触材１４に形成された凹凸１４ａ，１４ｂと、ベルト２０に形成された凹凸２０ａ，２０ｂと、の係合状態を維持することができ、ベルト２０とパレット１１との相対移動を禁止することができる。つまり、パレット１１のベルト２０による搬送を確実に行うことができる。 In this configuration, the pressing member 18 is provided, so that the pallet 11 mounted on the belt 20 is prevented from floating off the belt 20 or tilting relative to the belt 20. This makes it possible to maintain an engagement state between the irregularities 14a, 14b formed on the contact material 14 of the pallet 11 and the irregularities 20a, 20b formed on the belt 20, and makes it possible to prohibit relative movement between the belt 20 and the pallet 11. In other words, the pallet 11 can be transported reliably by the belt 20.
　以上、本発明の実施形態について説明したが、上記実施形態は本発明の適用例の一部を示したに過ぎず、本発明の技術的範囲を上記実施形態の具体的構成に限定する趣旨ではない。 　Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely show some of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.
　本願は、２０２２年１１月１４日に日本国特許庁に出願された特願２０２２－１８１５８６号に基づく優先権を主張し、この出願の全ての内容は参照により本明細書に組み込まれる。 This application claims priority to Patent Application No. 2022-181586, filed with the Japan Patent Office on November 14, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (7)

  1. 　移動するベルトに搭載されて搬送されるパレットを搬送途中に持ち上げるパレット持ち上げ装置であって、
    　前記ベルトの両側に前記ベルトを挟むように設けられた昇降アクチュエータと、
    　前記昇降アクチュエータにより昇降可能に設けられ、下降位置で前記ベルトに搭載されて搬送される前記パレットを搭載可能に構成された搭載部材と、
    　前記パレットを搭載した前記搭載部材が前記昇降アクチュエータにより上昇した状態で、前記パレットを前記搭載部材とともに挟んで前記パレットを前記搭載部材に固定する固定機構と、を備えたパレット持ち上げ装置。     A pallet lifting device that lifts a pallet being transported on a moving belt during transport,
    lifting actuators provided on both sides of the belt so as to sandwich the belt;
    a mounting member that is provided so as to be lifted and lowered by the lifting actuator and is configured so as to be able to mount the pallet that is to be carried on the belt at a lowered position;
    a fixing mechanism that clamps the pallet together with the mounting member and fixes the pallet to the mounting member when the mounting member with the pallet mounted thereon is raised by the lifting actuator.
  2. 　請求項１に記載されたパレット持ち上げ装置であって、
    　前記固定機構が、
    　前記搭載部材に上下動可能に設けられた昇降ロッドと、
    　前記昇降ロッドの上端に取り付けられ、前記搭載部材の上方に前記搭載部材と所定の間隔を開けて設けられた押し付け板と、
    　前記押し付け板と前記搭載部材の間隔を広げるように付勢する付勢部材と、
    　前記昇降ロッドの下端に取り付けられたスライドプレートと、
    　前記搭載部材が前記昇降アクチュエータにより所定の位置まで上昇したときに、前記スライドプレートに当接して前記昇降ロッドの上昇を禁止する制限部材と、を備えたパレット持ち上げ装置。     2. A pallet lifting apparatus according to claim 1,
    The fixing mechanism is
    A lift rod provided on the mounting member so as to be movable up and down;
    a pressing plate attached to an upper end of the lifting rod and provided above the mounting member with a predetermined gap therebetween;
    a biasing member that biases the pressing plate and the mounting member so as to widen the gap between them;
    A slide plate attached to the lower end of the lift rod;
    a limiting member that abuts against the slide plate to prohibit the lifting rod from ascending when the mounting member is raised to a predetermined position by the lifting actuator.
  3. 　請求項２に記載されたパレット持ち上げ装置であって、
    　前記押し付け板には、前記パレットの側面に対向し前記パレットの幅方向の移動を制限する段部が形成されたパレット持ち上げ装置。     3. A pallet lifting apparatus according to claim 2,
    A pallet lifting device in which the pressing plate has a step portion formed thereon that faces a side surface of the pallet and limits movement of the pallet in the width direction.
  4. 　請求項２に記載されたパレット持ち上げ装置であって、
    　前記搭載部材又は前記押し付け板のいずれか一方の対角位置に形成されたピンと、
    　前記パレットに形成され前記ピンが進入可能な孔と、をさらに備えたパレット持ち上げ装置。     3. A pallet lifting apparatus according to claim 2,
    pins formed at diagonal positions on either one of the mounting member or the pressing plate;
    A pallet lifting device further comprising a hole formed in the pallet through which the pin can enter.
  5. 　請求項１に記載されたパレット持ち上げ装置を備えるパレット搬送装置であって、
    　幅方向に所定に間隔を開けて設けられた一対のプレートに前記ベルトが循環可能に取り付けられ、
    　前記ベルトに搭載された状態で前記一対のプレートの上方を通過して前記プレートの外側にまで突出する鍔状部材が前記パレットの両側に形成され、
    　前記ベルトに搭載されて搬送される前記パレットの両側における前記鍔状部材が下降状態の前記搭載部材に搭載できるように前記パレット持ち上げ装置が取り付けられたパレット搬送装置。     A pallet transport device comprising the pallet lifting device according to claim 1,
    The belt is circulably attached to a pair of plates that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction,
    A flange-shaped member is formed on each side of the pallet, the flange-shaped member passing above the pair of plates and protruding to the outside of the plates when the pallet is mounted on the belt,
    A pallet transport device having a pallet lifting device attached thereto so that the flange-like members on both sides of the pallet transported on the belt can be mounted on the mounting member in a lowered state.
  6. 　請求項５に記載されたパレット搬送装置であって、
    　前記プレートの上部に取り付けられ、前記ベルトに搭載されて搬送される前記パレットの幅方向の移動を制限するガイド部材をさらに備え、
    　前記ガイド部材には、下降状態の前記搭載部材を収容可能な切り欠きが形成され、
    　前記パレット持ち上げ装置には、前記搭載部材が上昇した状態で前記切り欠きを塞ぐ予備ガイド部材が設けられたパレット搬送装置。     6. A pallet conveying device according to claim 5,
    a guide member attached to an upper portion of the plate and configured to limit movement of the pallet in a width direction while being carried by the belt;
    The guide member is formed with a notch capable of accommodating the mounting member in a lowered state,
    A pallet conveying device, wherein the pallet lifting device is provided with a spare guide member that covers the cutout when the mounting member is in a raised position.
  7. 　請求項６に記載されたパレット搬送装置であって、
    　前記ベルトに設けられ、長手方向に交互に連続して設けられた凹凸によって形成される第１係合部と、
    　前記パレットに設けられ、前記第１係合部に係合可能な凹凸によって形成される第２係合部と、
    　前記ガイド部材に設けられ、前記ベルトに搭載された前記パレットの前記ベルトからの浮きや前記ベルトに対しての傾きを防止する押さえ部材と、をさらに備えたパレット搬送装置。     7. A pallet transport device according to claim 6,
    A first engagement portion is provided on the belt and is formed by projections and recesses that are alternately and continuously provided in a longitudinal direction;
    A second engagement portion provided on the pallet and formed by a projection and recess that can be engaged with the first engagement portion;
    a pressing member provided on the guide member for preventing the pallet carried on the belt from floating off the belt or from tilting relative to the belt.
PCT/JP2023/040618 2022-11-14 2023-11-10 Pallet lifting device, and pallet conveyance device comprising pallet lifting device WO2024106346A1 (en)

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6374898A (en) * 1986-09-18 1988-04-05 株式会社牧野フライス製作所 Carrier with sliding plate for positioning
JP5498943B2 (en) * 2007-09-14 2014-05-21 フレックスリンク コンポーネンツ アーベー Lifting device, conveyor system and method for conveyor system
WO2019187778A1 (en) * 2018-03-29 2019-10-03 Ｎｉｔｔｏｋｕ株式会社 Conveyance pallet, and pallet conveyance device and pallet conveyance method that use same

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6374898A (en) * 1986-09-18 1988-04-05 株式会社牧野フライス製作所 Carrier with sliding plate for positioning
JP5498943B2 (en) * 2007-09-14 2014-05-21 フレックスリンク コンポーネンツ アーベー Lifting device, conveyor system and method for conveyor system
WO2019187778A1 (en) * 2018-03-29 2019-10-03 Ｎｉｔｔｏｋｕ株式会社 Conveyance pallet, and pallet conveyance device and pallet conveyance method that use same

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